Bay Area Houston Magazine November 2013

LEADING AND INFORMING OUR COMMUNITY

November 2013 www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com

SHOPPING MADE EASIER

NOVEMBER 2013

features 11

Dental Health

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Port and Ship Channel Update

An interview with Aurora DeVersa New projects and faces keep the ship channel on top

14 Education

CCISD news, photos, events and updates 28

50 Years of JSC

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IT Solutions for Small to Medium Businesses

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Simplify Your Shopping at Baybrook Mall

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The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

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News Nuggets

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Ben Meador: Chairman of the Boards

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Election Day, November 5

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20th Annual Festival of Trees

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Hope Community United Methodist Church

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Eclipse Massage & Spa

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Texas City Model Train Festival

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Boquillas, Mexico

Director of Graphics Media Victoria Ugalde

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Surviving Breast Cancer

Sales & Marketing Patty Bederka Debbie Salisbury

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Beware of the Pitfalls of Public Wi-Fi

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Four Astronauts Leave NASA

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South Shore Harbour Resort

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ON THE COVER Sarah Tierney, Ryan Boone, and Victoria Monette of Page Parkes Modeling Agency shop in Baybrook Mall.

Photography by Brian Stewart.

President & Chairman Rick Clapp Publisher & Editor in Chief Mary Alys Cherry

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Executive Vice President Patty Kane Vice President & Creative Director Brandon Rowan

Editorial Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Rod Evans Michael Gos Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Pat Patton Dr. Edward Reitman

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Community Affairs Director Lillian Harmon Bay Area Houston Magazine is produced monthly. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission. Advertising rates are available upon request.

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A Bay Area Houston Magazine Special Holiday Shopping Section Been out of town? Catch up on Bay Area news 2013 MacDonald’s Texas Invitational Photo ID now required to vote Coming up Thursday, December 5 Offering real hope to real people Health and wellness in your neighborhood November 9 and 10 Many changes but still the same feel MD Anderson center helps make it easy for area women Stay cyber secure Total number of astronauts down to 60 Celebrating 25 years

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Clear Lake Chatter

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Texas Meditations

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In Wheel Time

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The Admiral’s Log

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Light @ Work

Many events keep us on the go Instinct Sedans du jour Warmer bay waters attracting a wider variety of fish Sagemont Church ministry takes encouragement to Emeritus residents

38 CLICK!

Dr. J Derek Tieken’s Open House

Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586

281.474.5875

Holiday trips made easier

columns

Photography Mary Alys Cherry Brian Stewart

www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com R.Clapp@Baygroupmedia.com

MyITPeople.com provides end to end solutions

58 Community

Tickets on sale for magical Breakfast With Sugar Plum Fairy

Digital Strategy Consultant Pierr Castillo

Distribution Tim Shinkle

Johnson Space Center quietly observes anniversary

in each issue

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

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Advertiser’s Index

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Lakewood Yacht Club News and Events

ON MY MIND ‘A shameful chapter in our history’

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’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore. At least until the next time.

Yes, I’m talking about that crowd in Washington I’d like to toss in the Potomac River.

I’m fed up, just like the imaginary Howard Beale in the film Network, who urged his TV viewers to shout out of their windows “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

Frankly, it is beyond my comprehension how grown men and women could treat their constituents in such a low class manner.

“We inflicted pain on the American people that never should have happened,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) said, calling it a “shameful chapter in our history.”

Oh, how right he is!

We send our congressional representatives and senators to Washington to represent us and protect our tax money. Yet, while constantly calling for ways to save our tax dollars when they campaign for our vote, they get up to Washington and throw it away with a 16-day government shutdown – the cost of which has been estimated at $45 billion!

Yes, that’s billion!

Based on Office of Personnel Management figures published in The Washington Post, “the figure commonly cited as the ‘average’ federal employee salary now stands at nearly $78,500.” So add up two weeks pay approved for the 840,000 employees to not work and you get $253.5 million in wasted tax money.

The nation’s economy took another estimated $44 billion hit in lost business – fees from federal parks, small restaurants and other businesses that catered to government employees or that serviced government agencies that had to shut down and send their employees home without pay.

“We inflicted pain on the American people that never should have happened.”

And, all because some of our lawmakers did not like the new Affordable Health Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.

I have not read the details of the legislation but have heard people express both good and bad opinions about it. Quietly, mind you – never shouting to the mountain tops or threatening to burn the house down.

Whether it is good or bad is not reason enough to shut the government down. You simply determine what is not working and pass laws to correct it. Where have these guys been all their lives? Only the other day my Rotary club found one of its laws was not working to members’ satisfaction and a new law was drawn up and voted upon.

Didn’t Senator Cruz learn that along the way? Apparently not.

Bay Area cities cited

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he Cities of Nassau Bay, Seabrook and Webster were presented the 2013 Municipal Excellence Award in Communication Programs for cities of less than 25,000 population at the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference and Exhibition, in Austin Oct. 8-11.

The three were cited for their coordination with each other during the transport of a NASA replica shuttle.

“We didn’t do anything but create a big mess in Washington,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said on Meet the Press on the Sunday morning after the government reopened and most of Congress went home to rest up from all the stress.

The whole thing is just unbelievable. If we all acted in such a manner in our jobs, we soon wouldn’t have a job. Which gives me an idea . . . . Our government should have never been shut down. The government belongs to we the people, not the Congress.

In June of 2012, a full-sized replica of a NASA space shuttle was transported from the Spaceport in Florida to the Space Center in Houston. To manage the move through Nassau Bay, Seabrook and Webster, the three cities worked closely to notify residents, manage more than 5,000 spectators, maneuver numerous obstacles blocking the shuttle’s route, and coordinate with more than 30 organizations, agencies, and businesses.

While it was a celebration, the level of coordination required was, in many ways, similar to an emergency response. With only

Mary Alys Cherry Publisher

four weeks to prepare for the shuttle’s arrival, an incident command system was put in place to plan, organize, and communicate efforts. Thanks to the seamless coordination and collaboration of everyone involved, the region is now better prepared for a true emergency in the future.

Many city council members and staff from the three cities were there to accept the award.

The Texas Municipal League is an association of more than 1,130 Texas cities.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Advertiser’s Index

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AC Collins Ford Page 39 www.accollinsford.com ADS Custom Signs Page 56 www.ads-signs.com Alan’s Swamp Shack Page 53 www.theswampshack.com Amadeus Page 43 Arlan’s Page 57 Assistance League Page 56 www.bayarea.assistanceleague.com Baubles and Beads Page 33 Bayway Homes Page 29 www.baywayhomes.com Big Splash Web Design Page 23 www.bigsplashwebdesign.com Brotherton Properties Page 57 Cernosek Wrecker Page 57 Chuck Maricle Page 49 www.chuckmaricle.com City of Deer Park Page 37 www.deerparktx.gov City of Dickinson Page 43 www.ci.dickinson.tx.us City of Kemah Page 48 www.kemahtourism.com City of Nassau Bay Page 28 www.nassaubay.com Clark Freight Page 57 www.clarkfreight.com Coastal Plastic Surgery Page 6 www.tadammd.com Cock & Bull British Pub Page 42 & 47 www.thecockandbullbritishpub.com Cullen’s Page 27 www.cullenshouston.com Deck the Halls Market Page 15 Don Julio’s Page 19 www.donjulios.com Dr. J. Derek Tieken Page 4 www.tiekensmiles.com Eclipse Massage Page 44 www.eclipse-massage.com Encore Resale Shop Page 34 Fairmont Jewelry Page 57 www.fairmontjewelry.com Family Rehab Massage Page 42 www.familyrehabmed.com Fondren Orthopedic Page 2 www.fondren.com Frank & Son’s Jewelry Page 35 www.fsjewelry.com Frazier’s Concrete Page 53 www.fraziersconcrete.com G.C. Model Railroad Club Page 46 www.gcmrrc.org Ginger Snaps Page 32 Glass Mermaids Page 32 www.glassmermaids.com Golden Acres Pet Inn Page 57 Gusto Ventures Page 46 Herb Cafe Page 46 www.herbcafeandmarket.com Houston Technology Center Page 55 www.houstontech.org Island Furniture Page 25 www.islandfurniture.net Kemah Boardwalk Page 39 www.kemahboardwalk.com Lee College Page 3 www.lee.edu Mamacita’s Page 47 www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.com Massage Envy Page 18 Meador Staffing Page 65 www.meador.com MEC Properties Page 56 Mediterraneo Market & Cafe Page 44 Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy Page 26 www.medicineshoppe.com/1984 Melissa Hulvey Page 56 Memorial Hermann Page 5 www.memorialhermann.org McDonald’s Texas Invitational Page 41 www.texasinvitational.com My IT People Page 25 www.myitpeople.com New Dimensions Home Health Page 57 www.ndhhp.com No Name BBQ Page 56 www.nonamebarbq.com Norman Frede Chevrolet Page 33 www.fredechevrolet.com Oasis Salon and Medispa Page 51 www.oasisclearlake.com One Stop Tents & Events Page 18 www.onestopparty.com Opus Bistro Page 43 www.opusbistro.net Park Avenue Showplace Antiques Page 33 www.parkavenueshowplaceantiques.com Phelps Insurance Page 56 Qualified Properties Page 56 Ron Carter Clear Lake Page 59 www.roncartercadillac.com Sage Dental Page 35 www.sagesmiles.com SAIC Page 28 www.saic.com Salon La Rouge Page 34 www.salonlarouge.org Savannah Cafe Page 21 www.savannahcafeandbakery.com Shades Salon Page 19 www.shadessalontx.com Shoreline Properties Page 47 www.shoreline-properties.com Southern Sophistication Page 32 Space Center Auto Page 21 www.spacecenterautomotive.com Star Toyota Page 7 www.startoyota.com Stylin’ With Linda Page 15 Supreme Lending Page 10 www.supremelending.com Texas City Model Train Fest Page 46 Texas Coast Yachts Page 25 www.texascoastyachts.com Texas First Bank Page 52 www.texasfirstbank.com The Hop Page 44 Thomason’s Jewelry Page 34 UHCL Page 28 www.uchl.edu Unicare Dental Page 60 www.drnoie.com

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

DENTAL HEALTH

Aurora DeVersa

Aurora talks to us about her career, personal background and the dental health problems solved by the expertise of Dr. Farid Noie.

BAHM: Where are you originally from?

and a few procedures to build trust. At the end of it all, I am very happy with the results and I can smile with confidence and it just feels great.

DeVersa: Houston, Texas BAHM: How long have you lived in Bay Area and what brought you here?

BAHM: What kind of dental work have you had done with Dr. Noie? Please expand on this point.

Aurora DeVersa: I was born in this area and have never left.

DeVersa: I have a crown on my front tooth, a root canal on the other front tooth and a second root canal in a molar tooth that needed immediate attention. I had a partial permanent bridge on my front tooth and he combined six teeth with veneers so my teeth would match in color and scale. My lower teeth were aligned with an extraction and braces.

BAHM: Tell us about your professional career, hobbies and anything you may be passionate about.

DeVersa: I am currently a stay at home mom for our family and have been for the past year. Previously, I held an engineering design position in the oil and gas industry.

I also enjoy volunteering at the elementary school helping in the computer lab and other activities.

My passion is my children and spending as much quality time with them as I can. I was an avid racquetball player in the past and hope to one day pick that back up. I enjoy many types of music from jazz to pop and my favorite musician is Sade.

BAHM: Looking back, how would you describe your overall experience with Dr. Noie?

DeVersa: I feel very grateful.

BAHM: What do you think of Dr. Noie and his staff at Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry?

BAHM: Tell us about your past dental experiences, problems, and any dental work.

DeVersa: My past dental experiences were never thorough enough and lacked Aurora DeVersa and her husband JJ. a personalized plan that fit my needs.

Addressing the current problems and short term solutions was the strategy time and time again; not ever a long term plan that focused on a sustainable solution. In one case, I had a crown placed on one of my front teeth but the very small support the dentist chose was always loose and the color was never a good match with the rest of my teeth. You could also see the metal on the crown adjacent to my gum line. This was frustrating, as you might imagine, as this tooth was front and center in my smile.

Dr. Noie had a different approach, he wanted to know what I wanted. He focused on getting the long term result that I was looking for, a solution. I told him I wanted a smile I could be proud of.

“I know I’m in good hands.”

BAHM: How long have you been a patient of Dr. Noie?

DeVersa: I have been his patient for over 6 years.

BAHM: What brought you to Dr. Noie?

DeVersa: I did some research on him, scheduled a consultation with him, and that was the beginning of a wonderful result. In the beginning of the process, I was sceptical and it took some time

DeVersa: I think he is an expert at his field and it shows. The staff knows me and my family and are always eager to help.

BAHM: What are your feelings about your experience with Dr. Noie?

DeVersa: I was happy I found Dr. Noie.

He eased my anxiety about not having perfect teeth, he worked with me and he was honest and realistic. My experience was very emotional. I remember crying the first time I saw my teeth. I still have some work to be done but I know I’m in good hands.

Dr. Noie has been in private practice in the Bay Area since 1996. He is a Diplomate of Int’l Congress of Oral Implantologists, Fellow of Academy of General Dentistry, and Assoc. Fellow of American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

He has completed his surgical training at New York University as well as Medical University of South Carolina, Temple University, and Wright state University School of Medicine. He completed his oral Anesthesiology training at University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Photos: POHA

ON THE MOVE Two Massive Planned Projects Will Help Keep the Ship Channel on Top

By Rod Evans

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rom its inception, the Houston Ship Channel, one of the true engineering marvels of the 20th century, has been more a living and breathing entity than a “build it and forget it” structure. The modernization of vessels, including their increasing size, that deliver goods via the channel to the Port of Houston, along with changes in the area’s topography through natural forces, all work to require constant maintenance, expansion and revision along the 52-mile complex of private and public facilities.

Since its earliest days, when U.S. Rep. Tom Ball, after whom the town located north of Houston is named, devised an ingenious concept that called for the city of Houston to share the cost with the federal government to dredge a deep water channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Houston, the ccomplex has been the site of some of the most revolutionary and forward thinking projects in maritime engineering and construction.

Over the years, the channel has helped to fuel the economy of not only Houston, but also the numerous communities that make up the area. According to a 2012 study by Martin & Associates, channel-related businesses contribute over one million jobs across Texas, while the area accounts for over $178 billion in statewide economic impact.

In order to maintain its number one rankings in U.S. foreign waterborne tonnage, as well as in U.S. imports and exports, large scale projects must be regularly undertaken to help the channel meet the demands of the modern shipping industry. As the channel prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014, massive deepening and widening projects under the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers are set to kick into high gear at a pair of critical shipping lanes—the Barbours Cut and Bayport Channels—that will improve navigation safety and permit access to larger ships.

Barbours Cut

Located on the northern tip of Galveston Bay, adjacent to the Atkinson Island Wildlife Management Area, Barbours Cut is a 1.3-mile, 300foot wide, 40-foot deep channel. The

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current 150-foot berthing area is far less than the 225 feet recommended by the Houston Pilots Association, so the plan in development calls for the berthing area depth to be increased by dredging to shift the channel 75 feet to the north and deepening the channel to 45 feet.

“We completed the project to deepen the Houston Ship Channel to 45 feet several years ago. These projects at Barbours Cut and the Bayport Channel are intended to match the depth at the Houston Ship Channel,” said Phyllis Saathoff, the Port of Houston Authority’s deputy director of corporate affairs.

Saathoff said by increasing the berthing area size and channel depth, larger, more efficient ships will be able to gain access to the area, meaning that fewer ships would be needed to deliver cargo through the Houston Ship Channel. These ships would also be newer vessels for the most part, using more fuel efficient engines, which would lessen the environmental impact of these ships as they traverse the channel.

“The present 40-foot depth can accommodate most of the vessels that have been calling into the Houston Ship Channel, but we know there is a desire to bring larger vessels into the facility. We also talk about this in relation to the Panama Canal. Presently, we accommodate everything that comes through the existing canal, but once they open the third set of locks (projected to occur in 2015) that can accommodate vessels close to 12,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), we want to be able to match that,” Saathoff said.

Saathoff says work at the Barbours Cut and Bayport Channels are treated as one project with a price tag of about $130 to $150 million. A hydraulic pipeline dredge will be used to perform the work at both sites. This type of dredge floats along the water and excavates and pumps material through a temporary pipeline to a designated placement area. The plan calls for the dredged material at Barbours Cut, primarily clay, to be placed in the adjacent area at Spillman Island for eventual use in the development of higher levees.

According to Saathoff, Barbours Cut, constructed in the 1970s, was the first container terminal completed in the Houston Ship Channel and it is

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

in need of modernization in order to extend its useful life. The widening of the channel will also allow for the installation of larger cranes used in loading and off loading vessels.

“By widening the berth, we can use larger cranes at Barbours Cut to match the cranes being used at the Bayport facility. Those cranes extend farther out over the water, so we need to adjust the channel so boats can work under the cranes,” Saathoff said.

Bayport Channel

Positioned near the southern end of Galveston Bay and right at the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel, the 3.5mile long, 300-foot wide, 40-foot deep Bayport Channel was constructed between the mid-‘70s and mid-‘90s, and like the Barbours Cut Channel, advances in the size of ships utilizing the area have made widening and deepening the channel imperative to its future efficiency. It serves as the entrance to the Bayport Terminal, a high volume container terminal for the Port of Houston and one of the largest container terminals in the country.

While some widening of the “Flare” portion of the channel will be included in the project, the primary scope of work at the Bayport Channel, which requires annual dredging, calls for deepening it to the 40-foot depth.

Saathoff says the dredging work is scheduled to begin in February 2014, with the Port Authority seeking to award a construction contract for the work in January 2014. The plans call for dredging to begin at Barbours Cut first. Because the Bayport Channel is a longer waterway, it will require more preparation work than Barbours Cut, and the total project is expected to take several months to complete.

Citizen’s Advisory Council Formed

Port Commission Chairperson Janiece Longoria recently established the Chairman’s Citizen’s Advisory Council (CCAC) to serve in an advisory role to the Port Commission and Port of Houston Authority on a variety of issues of mutual concern.

The council will meet quarterly and its members will be geographically diverse in order to provide an effective line of communication between the surrounding communities and port officials.

“The CCAC will facilitate a regular and open channel for community input regarding the Port of Houston Authority’s mission and priorities, including job creation, economic development and environmental stewardship,” Longoria said. “The CCAC is an important initiative to engage our stakeholder communities with the work of the Port Commission.”

Cruise Lines Expand Service

The Port of Houston Commission recently awarded an eight-month, $325,000 contract, with an option to renew for an additional cruise season for parking services at the Bayport Cruise Terminal. Starting in November, Princess Cruises will begin a total of 77 sailings through 2016. Norwegian Cruise Line will begin sailing out of Houston next year for a total of 75 cruises through 2017.

Port Commission adds three new faces

Oh My

Stars!

When the Port of Houston Commission meets now, there are three new faces greeting Chairman Janiece Longoria – Theldon R. Branch III, Stephen H. DonCarlos and Roy D. Mease.

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oy Mease, a City of Pasadena appointee, replaces Commissioner Steve Phelps, who has served on the commission since 1997. The Pasadena attorney is a member of the State Bar of Texas, a University of Texas graduate and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law. He is chairman of the Pasadena Second Century Corporation, the city’s economic development entity, and served on the Pasadena City Council for eight years. He helped Pasadena earn the annual Community Economic Development Award for 2013, awarded by the Texas Economic Development Council. The award recognizes excellence and the exceptional contributions of TEDC member cities toward the economic vitality of their communities and the State of Texas.

He also is a former president of the Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo and has been a director of that organization for 44 years.

He and his wife, Sue, have been married for more than 50 years.

Stephen DonCarlos, also an attorney and the mayor of Baytown since May 2006, was named to the seat previously held

by Jimmy Burke, who had served on the commission since 1999, appointed by the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association which represents 26 cities.

An attorney with Reid, Strickland & Gillette, L.L.P., DonCarlos is a past president of the Baytown Rotary Club, and served as chairman of the Harris County Hospital District, on the Board of Directors of the Texas Medical Center and the Baytown Chamber and is a member of the Houston Bar Association and East Harris County Bar Association.

He graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA . and earned a J.D. degree from the

University of Texas. A resident of Baytown since 1979, he is married to Allene.

Theldon Branch, who was appointed unanimously by the Houston City Council to the seat held by Kase Lawal since 1999, has an extensive professional background in both the private and public sectors.

He is chairman and CEO of The Branch Companies, a privately held, Houston-based holding company that oversees investments in real estate, financial assets, the automotive industry and construction, and the managing partner of Dufry Houston and Branch/McGowen Ventures, which operates duty free concessions and a bonded warehouse in Houston.

He served as chairman of the Rebuild Houston Oversight Committee and also worked as an assistant director for the City of Houston Planning and Housing and the Community Development departments.

He is widely recognized as an expert in the area of franchise businesses and economic development. He has owned and operated three national restaurant franchises and six domestic and two foreign automobile franchises, served as the chairman of the National Minority Franchise Owners Alliance and was the first African American to become a Whataburger franchisee.

Branch, a graduate of HustonTillotson College, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration, serves as chairman of TexStars Foundation and is on the board of Harris County Improvement District No. 8 (Astroworld Redevelopment).

Gilbert Santana from left, joins Jimmy Burke, Councilman Brandon Capetillo, Councilman Terry Sain (and grandson Gregory), Councilman David McCartney, Mayor Stephen DonCarlos, Councilman Scott Sheley, Councilman Robert Hoskins, Quincy Allen, Wayne Gray and Chad Burke for the ceremony.

Eighth San Jacinto Historic District gateway monument unveiled in Baytown

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his September, the city of Baytown held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a monumental gateway anchoring the western entrance to the city. Present were Baytown Mayor Steven Don Carlos, several members of city council, Chad Burke, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, and representatives from TxDOT and the City Parks Board.

This monument is part of the larger “Gateways” project of the San Jacinto Historic District, conceived as a regional themed beautification project designed to highlight the rich historic assets of the 11-city district and to visually demark the entrance to each city. The first gateway was erected in La Porte in 2008. Since then, seven more have been completed; bringing the total completed to 8 out of 10 committed.

Each gateway is architecturally unique, featuring elements that symbolize the particular history or character of the participating city -- yet all are unified through the inclusion of the star of San Jacinto somewhere in the design.

Baytown’s monument, located at

I-10 near Spur 330, stands just shy of 43 feet tall and features a steel oil derrick atop a stone pedestal. A blue three dimensional nine point star that can be illuminated at night comfortably crowns the monument.

The image of the derrick is inextricably tied to the city and harkens back to the prosperous days of the Texas Oil Boom when derricks lined Goose Creek after the Tabbs Bay oil strike. Baytown is the site of the first offshore drilling in the state of Texas (second in the nation).

Baytown’s gateway was made possible in part by a $73,000 grant from the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and a $25,000 grant from Houston Galveston Area Council. The positive response has prompted the city to include a line item on their 2014 budget to erect a second gateway at the north base of the Fred Hartman Bridge.

Deer Park, currently in the engineering phase, will be the next city to construct their gateway, followed by Galena Park in the future.

For more information about the San Jacinto Historic District and to see more information about the Gateway projects, please visit: www.sjthd.org.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Clear Lake High School will have a futuristic look.

Creek principal promoted to assistant superintendent

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lear Creek High Principal Scott Bockart has been named assistant superintendent of secondary education for the Clear Creek School District. His selection was unanimously approved by the Clear Creek School Board during its Oct. 14 workshop.

“With almost 24 years of experience in public education, the last six years as principal of Clear Creek High School, he has shown the leadership and skills necessary to help CCISD continue to be a leader in visionary education,” said Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith.

He fills a vacancy created when the former assistant superintendent, Alex Torrez, was named the Pflugerville ISD superintendent in August.

Bockart holds a Master’s Degree in Education from St. Thomas University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Abilene Christian University.

He has worked in CCISD since 2002, serving as principal of both Clear Creek High and League City Intermediate.

“I am very fortunate to have had the opportunities afforded me in CCISD, and I am looking forward to the new challenges ahead as assistant superintendent,” Bockart said.

During his time in CCISD, Scott Bockart mentored 10 administrators who have been promoted within CCISD, while leading his campus through six years of downsizing due to the construction of two new high schools. He’s also served on numerous committees including Facility Advisory, Student Code of Conduct, DEIC and the District Design Team.

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The new face of CCISD

By Mary Alys Cherry

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he Bay Area community got a look into the future as architects unveiled plans for several big Clear Creek ISD projects this past month.

Among them were plans for the Clear Lake High rebuild, which was explained to students and parents at a public meeting¸ the new 9,500-seat district stadium on West NASA Parkway behind Burlington Coat Factory and the addition to the Westside CCISD Agriculture facility near the new stadium.

At this point, the design schematics may face minor changes as architects run their designs by school officials and make adjustments.

Construction on McWhirter Elementary in Webster will start next May with the old building eventually to be demolished later in the year. It sounds amazing but McWhirter currently has 72 doors. The new McWhirter will have only 13, the architects said, as they showed off designs for the school, which is still a work in progress.

CCISD boss finally gets a pay raise

By Mary Alys Cherry

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ew people will pass up a raise, but Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith has several times as the school district struggled financially when the Texas Legislature short changed it on funding.

Finally, with the economy on the mend, the man who was chosen 2012 Texas Superintendent of the Year will get one.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

The new district stadium will carry the logos of each CCISD school.

CCISD’s Ag Center will double in size with this new addition.

His last raise, a one percent pay hike, came in 2010 when trustees bumped his annual pay up to $238,000 and extended his contract five years to 2015.

Now that the state is making more money available to Texas schools, the school board voted a six percent raise for CCISD teachers and a five percent raise for staff in August.

Then in September, they rewarded the man who helped CCISD earn the Texas Education Agency’s Exemplary rating for academic excellence with a six percent pay raise, increasing his pay to $252,280 and extending his contract to 2018.

As trustees discussed his proposed raise, Trustee Ken Ballard noted that Dr. Smith was certainly deserving and had

forgone several raises when times were tough.

But Trustee Charlie Ponds said it best: “We will never be able to pay you what we feel you are worth” with Ballard, Dee Scott and Win Weber echoing his thoughts while other board members nodded their agreement and the superintendent managed an embarrassed smile.

As superintendent, Dr. Smith oversees around 5,000 employees and 40,000 students, and works with the mayors of all the cities in the district, two county judges and other elected officials in the two counties CCISD covers, plus state and federal elected officials.

CCISD’s Jillian Howard is Texas Bond Financing Plan May Elementary Teacher of the Year! Save Taxpayers $51 Million

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illian Howard, Clear Creek ISD a bilingual teacher at C.D. Landolt Elementary School, has been named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators.

“What an incredible honor for Jillian Howard and CCISD,” said Dr. Greg Smith, who himself holds the title of Texas Superintendent of the Year.

“She represents the high standards of our district and all of our outstanding teachers. We congratulate Mrs. Howard for leading the way in education with passion, determination and a focus on doing what’s right for our students and their families.”

Six exceptional educators from across Texas were chosen as finalists in the Texas Teacher of the Year program.

“These phenomenal educators symbolize the thousands of teachers across the state who are committed to making a difference in children’s lives,” said Johnny Veselka, executive director of TASA. “I congratulate the six finalists who diligently work to ensure their students not only master the academic content, but also are prepared to face the future with perseverance, integrity and a love of learning.”

In their Teacher of the Year applications, each educator offered insight into their teaching backgrounds, philosophy and style. Jillian Howard wrote, “Growing up, school was my only refuge. As the daughter of a 14-year-old single mom, I was forced to become an adult at

a very early age. I worried about being alone, about the gunshots that rang through the night, and about the Lord protecting me.

“But school was different; it was the place where I could be a kid. If I was lonely at home, at school there was companionship.

If I was in fear at home, I felt safe at school. If I didn’t get a meal at home, I could eat at school. If at home things seemed hopeless, at school therein lay hope for the future. School gave me a sense of empowerment in a life where I felt powerless.

I teach now with a burning conviction to recreate the refuge that school had been for me.”

The elementary school finalists are: n Connie Bagley, a dyslexia specialist at Crockett Elementary in San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District; n Julie Woodard, a 6th grade social studies teacher at D.S. Pullen Elementary in Rockwall ISD. The secondary education finalists are: n Carlos Briano, a journalism teacher at El Dorado High School in Socorro ISD; n Christian DeBerry, special education teacher at William P. Hobby Middle School in Northside ISD; n Monica Washington, an English teacher at Texas High School in Texarkana ISD.

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he Clear Creek School Board has approved a bond financing plan that may save taxpayers upwards of $51 million or two cents less on the tax rate.

In May, the community authorized $367 million in bonds to rebuild aging schools, accommodate enrollment growth and provide additional facilities for co-curricular and extracurricular programs. Based on the initial bond financing plan, taxpayers would have seen a 13 cent increase on the tax rate over a three-year period.

However, at the monthly board meeting, the district’s bond advisor presented a variable-rate proposal which would allow CCISD to finance upwards of $200 million of the $367 million in shortterm loans with an interest rate of less than one percent versus the original $367 million with longterm loans at a fixed interest rate of 4.68 percent.

“This is an opportunity to save taxpayers a significant amount of money down the road, draw down our debt at a faster rate than projected, and ultimately still achieve the goals set forward by the community in order to meet student needs for years to come,” said School Board President Ann Hammond.

CCISD is consistently watching the interest market and refinances debt at lower rates no different than people do on their own homes. Over the last 10 years, these efforts have led to a $35.8 million in interest savings of previous bonds.

Also at that meeting, the board: n Received notification the district received the “Superior Achievement” ranking under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas for the 11th consecutive year; n Congratulated CCISD Athletic Director Bill Daws on being elected president of the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association, which covers more than 1,000 school districts; n Honored the Clear Creek High Wind Ensemble, which has been invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic In Chicago in December at the largest musical convention in the world.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

Tax Assessor Mike Sullivan, right, talks with Houston City Councilman Dave Martin as they look over the crowd at the State of the Counties Address.

Port of Houston Commissioner John Kennedy, from left, visits with Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman, BAHEP President Bob Mitchell, right, welcomes Kemah Mayor Pro-tem Carl Joiner and Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Business Director Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell to the State of Dan Seal at the annual State of the Counties Address, held at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook. the Counties Address at Lakewood Yacht Club.

Many events keep us on the go CITY OFFICIALS turned out in force when the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership hosted its annual State of the Counties Address by the Galveston and Harris county judges at Lakewood Yacht Club.

Among those representing almost all the cities around the lake were Mayors Johnny Isbell of Pasadena, Glenn Royal of Seabrook, Bob Cummins of Kemah, Mark Denman of Nassau Bay and Tim Paulissen of League City, Mayors Pro-tem Carl Joiner of Kemah, Richard Sowrey of Clear Lake Shores and Einar Goerland of Taylor Lake Village, plus Councilmembers Dave Martin of Houston, Steve Rockey of Friendswood, Amanda Booren of

MARY ALYS CHERRY

Clear Lake Shores, Doug North of Webster, Gary Johnson and Robert Llorente of Seabrook, Wanda Zimmer of Kemah, Bob Warters of Nassau Bay and Wally Deats of Dickinson.

Others BAHEP President Bob Mitchell welcomed included City Managers Kelly Templin of Seabrook and Rick Beverlin of Kemah, Port

Several city officials were in the crowd as BAHEP hosted its annual State of the Counties Address, including, from left, Mayors Tim Paulissen of League City, Glenn Royal of Seabrook and Bob Cummings of Kemah with Kemah City Administrator Rick Beverlin.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

Commissioner John Kennedy and Harris County Tax Assessor Mike Sullivan.

Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark introduced County Judge Mark Henry while Harris County Judge Ed Emmett was introduced by Commissioner Jack Morman.

Both judges talked about big road projects in their counties – Judge Henry about work almost done on FM 646 and Judge Emmett about Highway 146, which he called the most important corridor in the area.

“We’ve got to be sure we have the infrastructure,” he said, urging all to stay focused on 146, while Judge Henry updated the crowd on the proposed Ike Dike and how his

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, left, talks with Commissioner Ken Clark as he arrives at the State of the Counties Address at Lakewood Yacht Club.

county had lowered the tax rate for the past three years.

Star-studded crowd attends space gala SPACE AND AVIATION pioneers were in the spotlight when the Frontiers of Flight Museum honored them at a black-tie gala at the museum at Love Field in Dallas.

And what a star-studded evening it turned out to be.

Eleven remarkable astronauts, representing 12,799+ hours and 533+ days of space flight experience -- Alan Bean, Gene Cernan, Eileen Collins, Frank Culbertson, Walt

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, right, is happy to see Commissioner Jack Morman as he joins the crowd at the State of the Counties Address.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker brought her campaign to Clear Lake as early voting was starting, meeting a crowd at Bay Oaks Country Club. Here, she visits with Michael and Ann Wismer Landolt at left, and Joe Mayer.

Cunningham, Fred Haise, Tom Henricks, Mike Lopez-Alegria, Jim Lovell, Tom Stafford, and Mary Ellen Weber -- joined in celebration at the 2013 Gala with former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Congressman Sam Johnson and Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to honor Congressman Ralph Hall and the U.S. Space Program.

Congressman Hall, who represents the 4th District of Texas and has long been a friend of NASA, was presented the George E. Haddaway Award for Achievement in Aviation in recognition of his dedicated advocacy of science, space and aviation as a member and chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Col. Walter Cunningham, pilot on the Apollo 7 Mission and author of The All-American Boys, and his wife, Dot, served as the honorary chairmen of the gala. Dot played a critical role over four years in obtaining the loan of the Apollo 7 to The Frontiers of Flight Museum from the National Air and Space Museum.

“It was quite an evening, bringing back a flood of memories of early NASA missions conducted at Wallops Island, Virginia and later Cape Canaveral,” Taylor Lake Village resident Gene Horton said afterwards.

He was there with his son, American Airlines President Tom Horton.

Outgoing Chamber Chairman Mike Furin and his wife, Tracie.

New Clear Lake Area Chairman Jamieson Mackay and his wife, Laura.

Chamber honors Its new chairman CLEAR LAKE Area Chamber members lit up the red carpet as they arrived at Space Center Houston for their 51st annual Chairman’s Ball honoring Chairman Mike Furin and a night of fun and frivolity.

While the night belonged to Mike and his wife, Tracie, chamber members also were introduced to their new chairman, Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union Vice President Jamieson Mackay, who came with his wife, Laura, and their new directors.

Serving on the board this coming year are Mike Cornett, Maureen Davidson, Terri Divine, Teresa Ehrman, Glenn Ellis, Charlie Felts, Brian Freedman, Chris Gregg, Gary

Harshbarger, Carl Joiner, Carol Keough, Jennifer McKnight, Gayle Nelson, Gail Payne, Chris Premont, Kevin Venable and Dawn Wilkes.

Among the many Chamber President Cindy Harreld and Chamber Vice President Sherrie Sweeney welcomed were State Sen. Larry Taylor, former Chamber Chairman Joe Mayer, up here from Florida, League City Mayor Tim Paulissen, Nassau Bay and Webster City Attorney Dick Gregg Jr. and his wife, Lynette; Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership President Barbara Koslov, Clear Creek ISD Trustee Dee Scott, Aerosys President John Martinec, BayTran Chairman Karen Coglianese and Space Center Houston President Richard Allen and his wife, Lori.

(Left) Frontiers of Flight Museum Director Cheryl Sutterfield Jones and her husband, Museum Curator Ron Jones, standing at far right, visit with some of the dignitaries at the 2013 Space Gala in Dallas, including, from left, seated, Congressman Sam Johnson, former astronaut Eugene Cernan, Congressman Ralph Hall and former astronaut Alan Bean; back row, Gene Horton, one of the first members of the Space Task Group, and his son, Board Chairman and American Airlines President Tom Horton; and Boeing Aerospace Vice President John Elbon. (Right) Astronauts Frank Culbertson, Fred Haise, Jim Lovell, Mike Lopez-Alegria, Tom Stafford, Alan Bean, Eileen Collins, Walt Cunningham, Mary Ellen Weber, Gene Cernan and Tom Henricks, from left, were in the crowd honoring Texas Congressman Ralph Hall at the 2013 space gala at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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texas m e di tat i o n s

By M i c ha el Gos

Instinct Fort Phantom Hill, Texas

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t was shortly after dawn on a very chilly February morning and I was the only person at Fort Phantom Hill. I had been there for more than an hour and not a single car had passed by on the road. If it wasn’t for power lines in the distance, I could have believed this was 1851.

Back in the 1850s the U.S. Army had a line of forts in Texas that were commissioned to protect settlers moving into the Comancheria during the western expansion. But as the settlers moved further west, the locations of the forts proved problematic. They were too far away to protect the new settlers. In response, the army built a second line of forts further west, one of which was officially titled the “Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos.” Five companies, fully 6% of the entire US Infantry, were stationed there.

Through a series of bad decisions, the fort got placed in a very poor

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location called Phantom Hill, so named because, from a distance, a hill rises sharply from the plain, but it disappears as you approach it. The spot was too far from water and timber and it made life difficult for the soldiers there. As a result, it was abandoned after only three years (1851-1854). It would later be reincarnated three times, once as a way station for a mail stage company and twice as a fort, during the Civil War and the Indian wars. In the 1880s a town of more than 500 grew up around the ruins of the fort, but it disappeared when it lost an election for the county seat to the nearby town of Anson. The town, and the fort, would be remembered in history as Fort Phantom Hill.

I was walking the pathway between the rows of chimneys that still stand, long after the cabins they warmed had burned to the ground, and the old stable, a long stone ruin with no roof. It was just me and the sound of the wind. Just as I passed the two

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

old wagons, something flashed in front of me. It was a rattlesnake—in February! I jumped back and felt the instantaneous flood of the adrenaline rush. There was the tingling, burning skin, the gasping for breath and the general sense of total savagery that comes with any huge influx of adrenaline into your bloodstream.

And it made absolutely no sense.

Long ago I made my peace with snakes. I’m not sure how or why it happened, but somewhere back in the

‘80s I decided that they, like a dog, a duck, or a deer, were my brothers and we had noting to fear from each other.

I would do nothing to hurt them and they in turn would do nothing to hurt me. We both have kept our parts of the bargain for nearly 30 years now.

I have not hurt a snake in any way and they have returned the favor.

There have been three occasions where poisonous snakes were within inches of my feet and one case, as I was swimming in Lake Mija, where a

water moccasin came within a foot of my face. They didn’t strike. When it comes to snakes, I have no concern whatsoever.

As a result, in a matter of a second or two, reason prevailed and I stopped being afraid. But it took much longer for the adrenalineinduced tingling and burning to subside. And it took a whole lot longer for me to figure out what just happened. Thinking about it took me back to the days of Hurricane Ike. Like everyone else in Seabrook, prior to the storm I had great concern, maybe even fear, about the damage Ike would do to my home. But the evening before the storm hit, I realized there was something else very powerful going on as well. I was experiencing a dramatically increased libido. By the morning after, when the rains were falling, it was almost all I could think about. Every woman I saw looked good to me. In the days immediately after, as neighbors gathered each evening around a fire just to have something to do until the electricity came back on, I noticed it wasn’t just me. It seemed all the women were exceptionally “friendly” as well. (At this point, I really wasn’t paying attention to the guys so I can’t comment on their status.)

I thought about that week many times in the five years since. It was

very out-of-character for me, and I am sure, for most of the neighborhood women as well. What was happening?

I have come to the conclusion that all the violence of the storm, the damage to our homes and the primitive living conditions brought out something in us that made us much more aware of the sexual

to death.” What happened to us was different. In essence, we were “scared to life.” For a brief time, we became totally aware of everything around us—and completely subject to our instincts.

We often think of instincts as something that only the other animals have—and that we, as humans, have risen beyond that. But we all

“I’ve often heard people say they were ‘scared to death.’ What happened to us was different.

In essence, we were ‘scared to life.’” tension. Fear, first of the storm, and then of how we were going to survive the losses, reduced us to some primal level. It was something I have never experienced in my life before or since.

We went into survival mode.

When that happens to us, our senses grow sharper in order to detect threats. That heightens our sensory perception and makes us more aware of everything around us, including sexual tension. I’ve often heard people say they were “scared

have natural, unreasoned reactions to certain things. Sometimes when threatened, we duck and cover, trying to be invisible in hopes that what is threatening us will go elsewhere. In other circumstances, when threatened, we attack, even if it is not the wisest move. Sometimes we run. If things are going badly, we choose to just leave. No point in trying to fix it.

And then there is my own personal demon; when stressed, I eat. These are all instincts—things we do

without thinking. They are automatic responses.

This raises all kinds of interesting questions. Where do these instincts come from? Are we born with them?

Do we develop them as children? But I think a more interesting question is, haven’t we by now outgrown the need for them?

When the snake darted across my path, like those days around Ike, instinct kicked in and rationality fled. I’m sure the instincts we have were, at some point in human history, important to our survival.

Rattlesnakes can be dangerous after all. But if I look at the instincts that show up in my life today, almost all of them are destructive. The rest are at best, unhelpful.

When we find we have acted instinctually, we can rationally look at our behavior later, when we have had time to “come down” from the adrenaline rush, the fear, the anger, or the hurt, and realize that the event forced us to act in a way that was contrary to our best interests. But by then, the damage is done. And yet, we had little choice. Instinct remains far longer than the need for instinct.

I guess that is just the nature of being the human animal. On the bright side, it did make the post-Ike days more bearable—maybe even a little fun.

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i n wheel t i m e

By D o n A r m st ro n g

Sedans Du Jour High performance luxury The 300 is king of the corral in Chrysler’s stable of vehicles. The SRT version adds the performance element that almost any red blooded American would love to own. The Chrysler 300 SRT Core edition gets the price of admission down to a point where more of us can afford the ticket.

The Core trim level features the SRT 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that delivers 470 horsepower and 470 lb.ft. of torque to the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission.

That combo allows this bad boy to accelerate 0-60 mph in the high 4-second range. That’s pretty quick, especially when you consider its 5,330-lb. heft. Heck, that’s only 117 pounds less than a Chevy Tahoe!

Where the Core model differs from the Premium SRT is in its accoutrements such as ‘Ballistic’ cloth seating, borrowed from the SRT Viper.

You’ll still get the 8.4-inch touchscreen in the center stack but without GPS. Gone, too, is the optional Adaptive Damping Suspension. In its place is a bucking bronco ride, but this is what the Core is all about, a performance luxury car without the frills.

Pricing starts at $44,450.

1.6-liter turbocharged engine. Both have similar mileage estimates of 23-city and 36-highway. We prefer the turbo because of its 240-hp and 270-lb. ft. of torque.

Depending on how much you want to divvy up will determine whether you get into the base S model or the bells and whistles Titanium beauty.

Steering and suspension have that European feel, but tempered by American tastes.

The Fusion’s interior does it for us too; clean lines, intuitive controls, nice materials. It also has the My Ford Touch system that, once mastered, you wonder how we got along without it.

Pricing is the last part of this Ford’s winning combination. Starting at $21,900, the Fusion puts competitors from Toyota, Honda and Nissan on notice.

Affordable sexy Have you found a sexier mid-size, 5-passenger sedan than the all-new Ford Fusion? We haven’t.

Not only does the Fusion look good with that bold, open-mouth grille and sleek body, it gets good fuel economy,

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has enough power and handling finesse to play among the best in its class.

There are three trim levels; S, SE and Titanium. The S and SE get the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder power plant that produces 175 horsepower while the Titanium version is equipped with the

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

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By Capt. Joe Kent David Bower with a nice mangrove snapper.

Warmer Bay Waters Attracting a Wider Variety of Fish

I Anglers have been reporting a number of new species of fish being caught over the past few years and are curious about what is attracting them to the Galveston Bay Complex.

Among them are mangrove snapper, also known as gray snapper.

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n visiting with fishermen who often fish the Galveston area, I find that many have experienced the same thing as I in that we are catching a lot of mangrove snapper.

What is so unusual about this is in the fact that twenty years ago they were not very common around Galveston Bay and, when one was caught, few anglers knew the identity of their fish.

While they still are not listed among the more common fish caught around here, more and more anglers are becoming familiar with the fish and the ones that keep them for the dinner table find that they are outstanding tablefare.

Ever since I started offshore fishing I would catch mangrove snapper along with other reef fish around structures and subsurface rocks and wrecks well beyond the jetties.

The big question in my mind and also others is “Is there a reason why we now are catching so many in the bays and around

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

the jetties?” For the answer to that question, I consulted an expert on fish and that is Lance Robinson, regional director with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Robinson responded to my question by saying, “Yes, there is a reason we’re seeing more mangrove (gray snapper; Lutjanus griseus) being caught farther up the coast than in years past.

Water temperatures are up and our winters have been relatively mild.

Also, salinities have increased due to the ongoing drought, which this species prefers. This species has greatly expanded its range over the last 10 years or so and fishermen are discovering where and how to catch them.

We’ve had some requests from fishermen to place harvest limitations (size and bag limits) on the species, but at this time there are no plans to do so, primarily because if we get a good cold front that blows through the upper Texas coast the population will be knocked back to their typical range along the lower Texas coast.

The lower lethal water temperature for gray snapper is around 52-58° F, which we can easily see some years.

At this time we consider the species to be opportunistic expanding into new areas due to changes in climate patterns, and fishermen can take advantage of another fun to catch and great tasting species.“ While mangrove snapper are appearing in large numbers lately, lots of other fish rare to the inshore scene are being landed, just not in the numbers of the mangroves.

Last September while fishing around Pelican Island in Galveston Bay, I landed a small gag grouper.

The fish caught me by surprise as the only places I have seen them caught is in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

This year more calls than usual have been received by the Sports Department at the Galveston County Daily News asking for identification of an unusual fish that was caught inshore. Most of the time, the identity is that of a species of offshore reef fish that has made its way into the warm waters of the Galveston Bay Complex.

Among those submitted (by picture) for identification were lizard fish, other varieties of snapper, pilot fish, black sea bass and tilefish.

While there are a number of new species of fish roaming our bays, you need to be familiar with the regulations before retaining them as many have size and bag limits with which most of us are not familiar.

Mangroves have no size or bag limits and, while most are on the small side in the bays, they do make excellent tablefare.

News & Events

Rear Commodore Joyce Maxwell, left, stops Shirley McCullough, left, Lakewood clubhouse Past Commodore Harvey Denman compliments for a photo with Janelle Leistad as they manager who is retiring soon, updates Era Lee Joy Edwards on the outfit she will model in the await the start of the style show luncheon. Caldwell on the style show luncheon program. Ladies Association style show.

Popular style show brings out big crowd

By Mary Alys Cherry Pretty Woman was the theme for the 2013 Lakewood Ladies Association style show luncheon with some two dozen members showing off an array of fall and winter styles from Dillard’s at Baybrook.

The popular annual luncheon, put together by

Lakewood’s First Lady Sandy Drechsel shares a light moment with Ladies Association Secretary Barbara Duckworth at style show luncheon.

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Chairman Roz Clayton and Co-Chairman Carla Smith, featured Rosemary Bettis as mistress of ceremonies and a thank you to Clubhouse Manager Shirley McCullough, who is retiring after so many years with Lakewood.

Models were Mary Ellen Arledge, Lindsey Boyd, Sue Collier, Stacie Covington, Jill Denman, Sandy Drechsel, Barbara Duckworth, Amy Dunphey, Joy Edwards, Leny Koster, Janelle Leistad, Tabbetha Lopez, Rita Matthews, Joyce Maxwell, Kristi McKim, Carolyn Mercado, Marilyn Mitchell, Mary Moorehead, Elizabeth Morrell, Cathy Morse, Johnette

Alice Thomas, standing, looks on as Lindsey Boyd, right, assists Amy Dunphey in getting ready to model in the Ladies Association style show.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

Models Johnette Norman, left, and Marsha Taylor were among the early arrivals the day of the Lakewood Ladies Association style show luncheon.

Norman, Becca Scoville, Marsha Taylor, Vivian Tomlinson and Barbara White.

Their escorts included Commodore Carl Drechsel, Vice Commodore Tom Collier, Fleet Capt. Don Mitchell, and Past Commodores Harvey Denman, Tom Taylor and Jack Thomas with Alice Thomas and Sue Warters coordinating the show, which drew Karen Lange and Diane Daniels all the way from The Woodlands to see their friend, Barbara Duckworth model.

And, all enjoyed the delightful Chicken Mushroom Crepes topped off with Pumpkin Cream Puffs.

Fashion Show Chairman Roz Clayton, left, goes over the lineup for the show with model Mary Ellen Arledge.

Karen Lange and Diane Daniels came down from The Woodlands for the Lakewood Ladies’ annual style show luncheon.

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Light @ work By Steve Lestarjette Sagemont Church ministry takes smiles, encouragement to Emeritus residents

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eaching out to people can be as simple as making a visit, sharing a smile, or offering a prayer.

Those are the tools Gerry Saccane and a team of volunteers from Sagemont Church use each week to encourage residents of Emeritus Assisted Living Center, located at 14101 Bay Pointe Court in Houston.

The church believes in reaching out so much, it wrote the mission into its name.

The ministry is called CROP, Church Reaching Out to People.

To be sure, CROP is more than visits to senior residents at Emeritus. Each week, some of the ministry’s 95 volunteers commit themselves to praying for churchgoers with special needs, while others visit homebound members of the congregation.

Still others make regular visits to Emeritus to hold services and visit with the elderly.

“Two teams minister there,” Saccane says. “One team provides two worship services for residents each month, while another drops by frequently to visit Alzheimer’s patients.”

Worship services begin at 3 p.m. and last about an hour. Aides employed by the center often go from room to room announcing the service and bringing those who desire to attend. “We have preaching, sharing and singing,” the coordinator says.

Visits with Alzheimer’s patients are more personal. “We share a Bible story, refreshments, and spend time visiting.”

The relationship with Emeritus began years ago when Sagemont Church Executive Pastor Church Schneider knew the manager of (then) Rosemont Assisted Living Center. The manager requested ministry for residents of the center, and the church responded.

Ever since, as steady as rain, Emeritus has heard the sound of guitars and raised voices on Sunday afternoons.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

“We have a corporate worship service, and most of them participate,” Saccane says. “Our ministry is two-fold: we worship together and we fellowship.

Many times, when folks enter a nursing home, their family does not have time to visit, so we are the extended family.”

Imagine the anticipation, the impact, the significance of those scheduled Sunday encounters.

Usually three CROP volunteers participate in each worship service. One will sing, another will teach, and a third will coordinate. Jimmy Breedlove and Andy Crawford coordinate this ministry for CROP. Volunteers are people “with a passion to do God’s will in their life and desire to minister to others utilizing the talents God as provided them,” Saccane explains.

“They are committed to going the second-mile for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Does the effort make a difference? Is it worthwhile?

“We are providing a corporate worship service that otherwise would not be available to these residents,” the coordinator notes. “From time to time, several have shared with our team how grateful they are to be able to have such an experience.”

CROP’s ministry at Emeritus has touched about 6,700 individuals since it began in 1999, not counting the 18-or-so visited each week who have Alzheimer’s. Adding in those who receive weekly prayer or a home visit, CROP has touched more than 57,000 people — and has seen lives and circumstances changed through prayer.

“It is our responsibility to be living proof of a loving God to a watching world,” Saccane says.

“And we’ll keep doing this as long as God calls volunteers to reach out to folks and minister in His name.”

Sagemont Church is located at S. Sam Houston Pkwy E. at I-45. The pastor is Dr. John Morgan.

JSC quietly observes 50 years in business

By Mary Alys Cherry

J

ohnson Space Center quietly marked the 50th anniversary of its opening in September as a government shutdown loomed and became a reality on Oct. 1.

Instead of a celebration, thanks to Congress, employees made preparations for the shutdown -- a far cry from its opening in September 1963 that drew a crowd of 52,000, including President John F. Kennedy, who also make his famous Rice University speech that day.

But it hasn’t always been that way.

There was a time when local residents were dancing in the streets after an especially successful space mission -man’s landing on the moon. And, one could always count on parties at a space launch and touchdown parties after a successful mission.

The 1,620-acre tract on which JSC sits was picked out as the Manned Space Center site in July 1961 by NASA Administrator James E. Webb and the space agency’s selection

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team. To be the primary center for U.S. space missions involving astronauts.

Construction of the center, designed by Charles Luckman on land donated by Rice University, began in April 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Space Task Group, charged with overseeing the manned spaceflight program and headed by Robert Gilruth, included Gilruth’s deputy, Charles Dolan; Max Faget, head of engineering; his deputy, John Lee; Chuck Mathews, head of flight operations; Chris Craft, who later became the JSC director and for whom Mission Control is named; and a young 21-year-old named Glynn Lunney. John “Shorty” Powers was head of the public affairs office.

Today, JSC has 3,200 civil servant employees, 12,000 contractor employees, more than a hundred buildings and is home to NASA’s astronaut corps, the world’s largest swimming pool – even a herd of Longhorn cattle.

MyITPeople.com Provides End to End IT solutions For Small to Medium Sized Businesses

By Betha Merit

J

ody Bellamy, owner and founder of MyITPeople.com grew up in Bay Area Houston as one of those kids in the late 70s who had every computer gadget that hit the market. “I was hooked for life,” says Jody. He was a natural and by the age of 12 could fix both software and hardware on his family and friends’ computers. He studied computer science in college and began working for Compaq Computers on a contract basis in 1994 as his aptitude and knowledge of the personal computer and cutting edge technology took off.

From there, Bellamy was in demand for contract work that spanned from server diagnostic testing to programming, and formed a partnership for providing IT services.

He worked primarily in the oil and gas industry becoming a network administrator and also was a technical project manager for British Petroleum and participated in seven different divestments, including the recent $2.5 billion sale by BP to Marathon Oil.

Fast forward to 2010.

Bellamy had long held a dream of running his own IT company. Upon the death of his mother that year, Bellamy took time for some soul searching and considered his life’s direction. He turned the tragedy to inspiration. “I had all this experience, and had also seen so many people doing technology the wrong way,” says Bellamy. “I wondered, why are they still in business? Where is their customer service?” IT people are infamous for being hard to understand and dry communicators. And that was the edge Bellamy had over the competition.

“IT support service should be a pleasant experience,” says Bellamy.

“Computers and technology should be a help to individuals and businesses, and not cause frustration. Our clients just want us to sit down and talk to them. And we do. We try to figure out each customer and their unique level of understanding of computer technology and jargon, and we talk their level so they are comfortable.”

Education happens along the way. MyITPeople.com utilizes cutting edge information technology skills and tools to bring businesses to their optimum production level, keep them secure and up and running.

“Our support model is to educate people on what they need; how to efficiently use their devices,” says Bellamy. “Your core business is not IT, ours is.” Bellamy speaks in word pictures. He describes a large florist shop that has 30 delivery trucks. The dispatcher takes care of those vehicles by scheduling tune-ups, new tires, toll tags, new equipment, and so on.

MyITPeople.com is the dispatcher.

Only in reality, it is your IT guy and technical partner. MyITPeople.com also takes care of privacy, compliance and firewall software. They work to teach you how to utilize mobile

apps and the cloud. The essential components of MyITPeople.com is to provide customer service, continuously be well-versed in the hardware and software options of ever changing IT technology, and to keep businesses up to date on compliance and security software.

Bellamy hired on three employees in late 2011 as business picked up.

What customers are discovering is that MyITPeople.com is their own personal concierge for technology, where your business is understood, and they make things happen for you.

“Retail IT companies might cost less, but you get what you pay for,” says Bellamy. MyITPeople.com specializes in small to medium sized businesses but will take on special projects for larger companies on a case by case basis. “We are the perfect partner for businesses of five to 30 employees that can not afford an IT department but want to take their business to the next level,” says Bellamy. They also support individual businesses such as real estate agents, mortgage lenders, and insurance agents.

Their website, www.MyITPeople. com gives a more in-depth list of services offered, as well as archived blog posts to inspire and update people who want to learn more about technology and how it applies to their business or the individual.

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getting your packages to the car. Mall security is available to help carry bags and provide an escort to your vehicle.

Just call 281.488.4620.

Shop with the kids. With the little ones along, breaks are essential. Stop in the Food Court. Rent a Kiddie Kruzzer to turn a mundane shopping trip into an adventure. Santa’s under the skylight near Apple, if the little guys want to stop and visit. Or maybe you just want to pass by and wave as a subtle reminder that he’s watching.

Don’t run out of energy. With or without the kids, stop to eat. There’s the Food Court for quick bites. For more relaxing fare, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and The Cheesecake Factory are located in the parking lot near Macy’s.

A sit-down dinner or just a slice of cheesecake is a nice reward after a day of shopping well done.

Get in the spirit. Caps & Corks, a wine-and-beer bar, offers wine by the glass, wine-based margaritas, beer and more spirited beverages. Sit and sip. Enjoy a snack, too, as The Cheesecake Factory will deliver food to you.

Gift and go. Pick up a Shop Etc. Mall Gift card at the kiosk near Zales and Ben Bridge. It’s always open.

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oliday shopping.

Some people love the experience, buying with a vengeance, energized by the crowds and the frenzy of finding the perfect gift.

Some juggle the task with the greatest of ease. Some clever, albeit annoying souls start – and finish – before Halloween. Some people dread the madness. Others put it off completely until December 24. Most of us fall somewhere in between, having devised our own personal systems of getting it done without spontaneously combusting.

This year, we decided it was time for some new how-tos for tackling holiday shopping. So, we sat down with Colin Moussa, marketing manager of Baybrook Mall, who has survived six holiday seasons in retailing.

The conversation started, and ended, with: Stay calm. Don’t stress out. Shop smart. The holidays are time for fun and family. Planning is the key.”

Here are Colin’s tips to make your shopping easier.

Get organized. Make a list of everyone you plan to buy a gift for,

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no matter how small the gift might be. Jot down gift ideas. With your list in hand, check the directory of stores online at www.baybrookmall.com.

Make a plan for your day. Then, head to Baybrook Mall.

Shop early. Earlier in the week and earlier in the day stores are less crowded and parking spaces are plentiful. Mondays and Tuesdays are traditionally the lightest days.

If you’re shopping on the weekend, early is essential with one exception: crowds thin out after seven p.m.

Find an app for that. Smartphone users can download the mall’s free application, The Club Shopping Mall Guide. This mobile app not only saves shoppers money, but also lessens the stress with features such as push notifications for sales at selected stores, a Google® map that helps find

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

the fastest route to the center, live Facebook® feeds, GPS capabilities and more.

Add shopping hours in your day.

Take advantage of our extended hours. The closer the days get to Christmas, the longer the mall is open. Check www.baybrookmall.com for times.

Take advantage of amenities.

During the day, relax and regroup.

There are comfortable seating areas throughout Baybrook Mall.

Security has wheelchairs available for shoppers who need a lift. Call 281.488.4620.

Help with packages. When shopping’s done, don’t struggle with

Stay connected. Baybrook Mall now offers free wifi for shoppers.

Just take a minute to join The Club and presto!, you’re connected. Plus take advantage of the mobile phone charging station in the family lounge located in the food court.

“Holiday shopping can be delightful. What a wonderful time to think about friends and family and taking the time surprise them with something special,” says Colin. “Over the years, I have seen plenty of always smiling shoppers and plenty of others having melt-downs. Smiling is the best choice and with a little planning, you can glide through the holidays.”

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New Dimensions Home Healthcare Plus Receives Texas Governor’s 2013 Small Business of the Year Award

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ew Dimensions Home Healthcare Plus, located in Pasadena was awarded the Governor’s 2013 Small Business Award at the annual Governor’s Small Business Forum sponsored by the Texas Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission and many local partners.

“We at New Dimensions are thrilled to receive this award.” said Josie Lightfoot, founder and CEO. “A big thanks goes to Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for nominating us. It is so nice to be recognized for our work but the biggest thanks goes to the recipients of our work, our patients and clients.”

New Dimensions Home Healthcare Plus has been providing quality home healthcare services for almost 15 years. It has experienced continual growth and has increased its presence in the communities of Harris County. As a bi-lingual agency, New Dimensions has been able to provide health services and education to the many individuals in Houston and surrounding communities who speak only Spanish. With over 500 employees, New Dimensions looks forward to celebrating its 15th year of doing work that matters for the better health of thousands of its clients.

About New Dimensions Home Healthcare Plus. New Dimensions Home Healthcare Plus is located at 4949 Fairmont Parkway, Suite 101 in Pasadena, phone 281-998-9611. A Medicare certified agency, New Dimensions also provides personal care services. These services provide seniors with assistance with the everyday living activities, which enable them to remain living at home for as long as possible. New Dimensions serves in many civic and educational organizations.

It also offers educational presentations to communities on various topics beneficial for better health.

About Small Business Forums.

Governor’s Small Business Forums, sponsored by the Texas governor’s office, the Texas Workforce Commission and local partners, are designed to give entrepreneurs and small businesses valuable tools, skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced economy. Featuring a wide range of instructive seminars and expert speakers offering vital information on both public and private resources, the forums offer a great opportunity to network and connect with industry specialists, government officials, service providers and other regional businesses.

For more information contact Josie Lightfoot at 281-998-9611

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News nuggets Been out of town? Here’s what’s been happening while you were gone.

Seabrook city manager quits Seabrook City Manager Kelly Templin has resigned, effective Dec. 1, to become city manager for College Station. Deputy City Manager Gayle Cook will serve as interim city manager until a city manager is named.

“Kelly is leaving great stability in our city government,” Mayor Glenn Royal said, adding, “and what excites me is that this will continue with the appointment … of Gayle Cook. As deputy city manager, she has been the right hand of Kelly and former City Manager Chuck Pinto.

Both council and staff have great respect for her and her many talents.”

Council vote with Mayor Floyd Myers, and Councilwomen Diana Newland and Alexandria Dietrich opposed.

The raise came after Sabo’s annual evaluation during Council’s executive session.

League City gets new judge Attorney Kathleen McCumber has been appointed presiding municipal court judge by the

abuse of office charges.

Dupuy was indicted in May on eight counts of retaliating against his ex-wife’s attorney in a divorce case.

He was sentenced to 10 days of time served for perjury and 20 days of time served on the abuse count and serve two years of probation, after which the convictions will be erased from his record if he satisfies the probation terms.

Jim Yarbrough to vie for mayor Former Galveston County Judge James D. Yarbrough has announced that he is running for mayor of the island city in the March municipal elections.

The Galveston native and University of Texas graduate served as county judge from 1995 to 2010, when he lost the post to Judge Mark Henry.

Two astronauts’ deaths reported Two well known former astronauts died in recent days – one who was an original Mercury astronaut and the other a highflying research and test pilot.

Scott Carpenter, who was the second American to orbit the earth, died Oct. 10 in Denver, Colo., at the age of 88, leaving former Sen. John Glenn as the last surviving Mercury astronaut.

C. Gordon Fullerton, who flew on two early shuttle missions and many research missions out of NASA Dryden after retiring from the astronaut corps, died Aug. 21 at the age of 76.

Webster official given pay raise Webster City Manager Wayne Sabo has been given a five percent merit pay increase after a 4-3 City

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

After many months of work, Webster has a new fire station, located on Highway 3 next to City Hall. During the opening ceremonies the Webster Fire Department maintained a fire tradition by “wetting down” two of the fire trucks and pushing them into the new station. The tradition stems for the days when fire wagons were pulled by horses, when fire fighters returned to the station they would cool down the horses and manually push the wagon into the station.

League City Council after serving as the city’s associate judge for the past 10 months.

An attorney with the Cagle and McCumber law firm, she also serves as Precinct 8, Seat 1 justice of the peace.

She replaces Judge Kerri Foley, who has been appointed judge for Galveston County Court at Law 3 after serving in the League City post for the past 10 years.

Friendswood attorney Richard Cope was named associate judge.

Judge Dupuy resigns post Galveston County Family Law Court Judge Christopher Dupuy has resigned after pleading guilty to misdemeanor perjury and

C.L. Chamber holds food drive The Clear Lake Area Chamber Young Professionals are holding a food drive benefitting the Galveston County Food Bank.

Cans of meat, beans and fruit, peanut butter, kid friendly foods such as jello, goldfish, pasta and fruit snacks, and personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap and cotton swabs are being collected, along with household cleaners such as dish soap, detergent, bleach and air freshners.

Donors may drop off items at the chamber on NASA Parkway until the drive ends Nov. 21.

Ben Meador Chairman of the Boards The 2013 McDonald’s Texas Invitational kicks off Nov. 21, and one Pasadena businessman and civic leader couldn’t be happier.

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n a short 11 years, the McDonald’s Texas Invitational has grown to become one of the nation’s premier high school athletic competitions in any sport — a fast-paced, 72-hour basketball extravaganza of 200-plus games that features many of the best high school teams in Texas.

For many young athletes, the tournament is the first real taste of “the big time.”

Last year’s attendance reached 45,000. Teams played in packed-out venues across Pasadena, Deer Park, South Houston and Houston, and games were televised on the Fox Sports Channel.

With the effort of more than 400 volunteers, the 2013 edition is set to start with a roar on Nov. 21, and no one could be happier than long-time Pasadena businessman, civic leader — and sportsman — Ben F. Meador. Jr. Meador, who founded Meador Staffing Services in 1968, provided the initial vision that birthed the tournament in 2003, and has remained actively involved as its foremost champion ever since. He still chairs a myriad of committees and volunteers that makes the tournament sparkle for players, coaches and sports fans year after year.

The man who chairs the McDonald’s Texas Invitation recently shared his thoughts with Bay Area Houston Magazine.

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BAHM: What prompted you to create a tournament like this?

Meador: The idea for this tournament came about when my wife and I attended a 16-team tournament put on by Pasadena Independent School District (PISD).

We attended the final game at Phillips Field House where there were two great teams on the floor, but only a hundred people in the stands. I told my wife I thought our community needed to be more supportive, that we could do better than this. Her comment was, “Why don’t you do it?”

I thought about it for several weeks, then decided to ask our Chamber of Commerce, the school district and City of Pasadena to get behind something that would benefit the kids in our district and showcase

“In 10 years, this tournament has donated more than $1 million dollars to education.” good things about our schools and city. The Pasadena Chamber gave me 20 minutes on its agenda to describe the idea, and voted to sponsor the tournament.

BAHM: What did you envision this tournament would grow to become?

Meador: I knew that, if we could attract the best basketball programs in the state, the event would grow. It has evolved along the way to become one of the largest tournaments in the nation, and also one of the most competitive.

In 2005 we asked McDonald’s to be the naming sponsor and make a major commitment. Since MacDonald’s sponsors the high school AllAmerican game each year, it has national credibility.

BAHM: Can you identify a “defining moment” that helped the tournament achieve a greater significance?

Meador: If I could name just one defining moment, it probably would be when we decided to donate all the profits back to education. In 10

years, this tournament has donated more than $1 million dollars to education. Last year alone, it gave $165,000 to the PISD and $82,000 to the Deer Park ISD foundations. We like to say that the Invitational highlights athletics and benefits academics.

BAHM: What is the financial impact of the tournament on the area?

Meador: Last year, Chad Burke, head of the Houston Port Region Economic Alliance, said the economic impact was $2.4 million dollars.

During the tournament weekend, many of our hotels and motels are full, eating establishments are humming with activity, and our retail businesses are seeing increased business.

BAHM: Likewise, what was the greatest challenge or difficulty you have faced since the start?

Meador: The greatest challenge has been keeping up with the growth of the tournament. We operate on a strict budget, and costs tend to increase each year. Major costs include lodging and travel for out-of-town teams that amounts to about $45,000 annually.

Other challenges are expanding our sponsor base, adding and training new volunteers, and exploring improved methods of marketing and promoting the event.

Most of the revenue comes from sponsors. Other revenue is derived from ticket and t-shirt sales. Two years ago, Jack Bailey, PISD Board of Trustees president, started the Texas Invitational Golf Tournament that raised $30,000. This year it was over $32,000.

Total revenue this year will exceed $300,000, and we are confident we will establish another record for the donations we are able to give the foundations. We have never failed to break the previous year’s record.

BAHM: Does one particular team or game standout as a personal favorite?

Meador: The best game we have had in this tournament thus far is the Gold Division One championship between Duncanville and San Antonio Madison in 2006. Duncanville came into the tournament year as the number-one ranked team in the nation. It had three players who had committed to Division One colleges.

San Antonio-Madison took them into two overtimes and beat them. It was a tremendous game.

To learn more about the 2013 McDonald’s Texas Invitation, including locations for each game, visit www.texasinvitational.com.

Photo ID needed to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5

By Mary Alys Cherry

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ay Area Houston voters head to the polls Saturday, Nov. 5, to decide a number of Houston races for mayor, controller and city council, a Friendswood bond referendum, Baytown city elections, several Pasadena charter amendments.

And, for the first time, voters will need some type of photo identification to vote, Tax Assessor Mike Sullivan reminds everyone. “Our office is working hard to ensure voters understand the new ID requirements and have all the information they need,” he said.

Besides a Texas Driver License, voters also can show a U.S. Passport, a U.S. Military ID card with the person’s photo, a Texas Personal ID Card or Concealed Handgun License issued by the Department of Public Safety or a U.S. Citizenship Certificate with the voter’s photo.

Both Harris and Galveston County voters will cast ballots on nine constitutional amendments.

Harris County voters will have two additional propositions about bonds to support the county’s proposed $70 million adult detention central joint processing center bonds and $217 million in bonds to redevelop the Astrodome.

Nine Houston residents are running

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for mayor, including the incumbent, Annise Parker. Her opponents are Charyl L. Drab, Eric Dick, Don Cook, Keryl Douglas, Ben Hall, Michael Fitzsimmons, Victoria Lane and Derek Jenkins.

Candidates for Houston controller are Bill Frazer and Ronald Green.

Several dozen are running for the Houston City Council, including District E Councilman Dave Martin, who is unopposed. A list of all those running may be found at on the website, Harris Votes.com and click on Sample Ballot.

In Baytown, Mercedes Renteria III and Laura Alvarado will vie for the District 1 council seat and Chris Presley and Scott Sheley for District 2 with Brandon Capetillo unopposed for the District 3 seat.

Friendswood’s $7.2 million bond referendum is for a new fire station and to improve parks and expand the city library.

The proposed Pasadena amendments would change City Council meetings from weekly to two per month, on the first and third Tuesday, provide for the election of a mayor pro-tem and require City Council candidates to document their place of residence.

Propositions In recent days county and state officials have called attention to some

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of the propositions, including Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and former Harris County Judge Jon Lindsey, who are urging residents to back the proposal to save the Astrodome, an “open space unmatched anywhere in the world,” Emmett says of the Texas icon.

Gov. Rick Perry and many state officials are pushing a plan to assure that Texas has an adequate water supply in the future.

Proposition 6 provides for the one-time transfer of $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, which will act as banks, making low-interest loans for water projects -- to ensure the availability of adequate water resources now and in the future.

Proposition 3, backed by Bay Area Houston officials, will increase the number of days business inventory, such as aircraft parts, may be warehoused in the state without being subject to property tax, up to two years – which would prove beneficial to businesses at Ellington Airport.

With voters’ approval, local governments can permit Texas aerospace and aircraft manufacturing companies to warehouse parts in Texas for two years without penalty, instead of the current six-month limit.

Today, Texas is one of only 11 states that levy a general property tax on inventory.

Polling places Hundreds of polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day. Some include the Harris County Courthouse Annex in Baytown, the Deer Park Community Center and the Kingsdale Rec Center in Deer Park, Evelyn Meador Library and Clear Lake Park Building in Seabrook, Webster Fire Station on Egret Bay Boulevard, Webster Civic Center, Forest Bend Civic Building in Friendswood, La Porte City Hall, San Jacinto College, IBEW and Faith Presbyterian in Pasadena, Pipers Meadow Community Center in Webster, Nassau Bay Baptist Church in Nassau Bay, Bealla Vita Clubhouse in Pearland and Taylor Lake Village City Hall.

Clear Lake City residents can vote at many of the area’s elementary schools, Space Center Intermediate, Clear Lake Intermediate and the Clear Lake High Ninth Grade Center, University Baptist Church, Clear Lake City Church of Christ and the Clear Lake Recreation Center.

For a complete list, visit www.HarrisVotes.org or www.

GalvestonVotes.org

20th annual Festival of Trees coming up Thursday, Dec. 5

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lans are under way for Interfaith Caring Ministries’ largest fundraiser of the year, its 20th Annual Festival of Trees Fashion Show and Dinner Thursday, Dec. 5, at South Shore Harbour Resort.

“Past & Presents” is the theme chosen for the popular event, which will honor past community supporters and those involved with the Festival of Trees, all of which are incredible gifts to ICM. This year, Greg Enos, ICM’s past president of Board of Directors and attorney at The Enos Law Firm, will chair the event with great enthusiasm, promising to make this year’s event better than ever.

The Festival of Trees will feature a fashion show and dinner in the SSHR ballroom, adorned with trees decorated by individuals, school groups, businesses, organizations and churches. There will also be live and silent auctions, a mystery wine pull and live music provided by Hollywood entertainer Mark LeVang.

Proceeds from the event will benefit ICM’s ongoing services which assist local families who are in an economic

ICM Executive Director Suzy Domingo, left, ICM Festival of Trees Chairman Greg Enos and ICM Communications and Special Events Coordinator Haley Lusson, go over plans for the 20th Annual Festival of Trees at kickoff meeting.

crisis due to issues such as illness and unemployment.

Agency services include emergency rent and utility assistance to prevent homelessness; hunger prevention through an on-site pantry; childcare assistance for those furthering their education; a community computer lab for at-risk students; and outreach for homebound senior citizens.

Last year, with the community’s support, ICM was able to assist 8,902 Bay Area residents.

Community partnership is essential to the event’s success. For questions or more information about how to be involved or sponsorship opportunities, contact Haley Lusson at 281-332-3881, ext. 1112 or email her at hlusson@icmtx.org

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Hope Community United Methodist Church Offering Real Hope to Real People

By Betha Merit

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hatever shape you find yourself in today-physically, spiritually, and emotionally. You are welcome at Hope Community United Methodist Church. “We are not the church for everybody,” says Pastor Jack Womack, “we are the church for anybody.” Hope Community UMC takes the words Faith, Recovery, and Hope and makes them come alive.

Why the focus on Recovery? “My notion of recovery is that everybody is in recovery from something in life.

That can be alcoholism or substance abuse, broken relationships, grief, loss, depression, unemployment, and so on,” says Pastor Jack. “We are doing what we are supposed to be doing by meeting you on your journey, because we are all on a journey.”

Towards the goal of helping people find hope and grow their faith, Hope Community focuses on outreach.

“We build bridges to the community,” says Pastor Jack. The motorcycle ministry is inclusive to anyone and provides an activity for members, attendees and friends alike. Pastor Jack and his wife Kathy both ride Harleys.

Hope Community partners with a neighborhood elementary school by providing 15 adult members to mentor students through the H.O.S.T.S. program in Pasadena ISD. Additionally, they provided 180 backpacks with school supplies inside for students at the local school one year. Their annual pumpkin patch is also a free event that provides a free pumpkin for each student, and has grown from just a field trip for pre-

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schoolers to include pre-kindergarten through first grade students. This year they are gearing up for the entire school. “We do this to spread the love of Christ,” says Pastor Jack, “we don’t expect the parents to bring the kids to our church, but to plant a seed.”

Outreach helps the community as well as Hope Community members in their individual journeys by providing connection to people, transforming relationships, and allowing for creativity in the expression of their faith. “We want to meet people right where they are, and hope they figure out, ‘Wow, I might fit in,’” says Pastor Jack.

Hope Community UMC was founded in 2008 as a new faith community in Pasadena, TX. In January 2011 they were officially chartered and started two worship services. The Connection worship is a casual Saturday night service, at 5:30 p.m. that offers a message of hope combining the power of the 12 steps of recovery with Biblical truth, sharing, and encouragement. Sunday morning is Traditions, a service at 11 a.m. with traditional music and Biblical message, and casual attire is encouraged. Sunday Bible Classes begin at 9:30 a.m., and every 2nd Sunday is a potluck for the entire church with friends always being welcome.

Uniquely, Hope Community is a debt free church, complete with buildings and a congregation that works together fundraising to provide free outreach events and services for the community. Hope Community is becoming a destination church for people that want more than just to meet on Sunday morning.

Located a few blocks inside Beltway 8 at 2838 Lily Street, Pasadena, TX 77503, www.hopecommunityumc. org, 281.487.0610

Eclipse Massage & Spa Health and Wellness In Your Neighborhood

By Betha Merit

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clipse Massage & Spa has been named Business of the Year for Deer Park, Texas –2013.

The reason is simple. The goal of owner, Carina Pantoja, is to specialize in one area and be the best at it. That area is overall wellness for your body and soul. Services begin with massages, that melt away stresses while relieving the tensions of life, and include body treatments that beautify while nourishing your skin. The spa experience features both a relaxation lounge and a covered patio where you can take time to relax both before and after your treatments. There is no time limit on your journey to wellness.

“We want to be the Ritz Carlton of Spas,” says Pantoja. Eclipse is known for couples massage services and provides locker rooms for both men and women so they can shower before and after their experience and be ready for a night on the town. Eclipse provides high quality, comfy robes and slippers for each client, and all linens are luxurious, soft, and inviting. Soft music and aromatherapy is crafted to enhance the experience and not overwhelm the senses.

The staff at Eclipse is specially trained to provide the nurturing, professional, and personal care you need. Upon entering the brand new 4,500 square foot facility you are warmly greeted and offered daily pastries, Keurig coffee, and healthy

infused strawberry-lime water or whatever is the flavor of the day.

Whether you choose to come in after work for an hour massage and head home to bed, or spend time enjoying the soft music and conversation in the relaxation areas, your experience is tailored to you. Customer service is alive and well at Eclipse.

Pantoja’s dream was to create a spa facility where both genders would feel comfortable. A life long resident of Deer Park, Pantoja literally grew up across the street from the new location, and currently lives within a mile of Eclipse with her husband, co-owner, Jose Pantoja. Pantoja, a trained radiographer, was working as a mammography supervisor for River Oaks Imaging for eight years.

She had a monthly routine of getting a massage, and saw the benefits for herself.

Eventually, she decided to go to school to become a massage therapist. “I wanted to see if I liked giving massages as much as I liked getting them,” says Pantoja.

“And I did.”

In 2007, Pantoja set up a room in her house and gave massages to friends and co-workers. And business just blossomed. She soon gave up her radiology position and rented a small facility to begin Eclipse, and has now grown to 13 employees and moved into a brand new, calm and quiet, oasis-like setting that touches on all five senses. Other services include infrared sauna (as seen on The Dr. Oz Show), parties and events, laser hair removal, weight loss, medi-spa treatments, and more.

Eclipse is located at 4321 Center Street, Deer Park, TX 77536. For hours and a complete list of services, go to www.eclipse-massage.com; 281.478.0300.

“We want to be the Ritz Carlton of Spas.”

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Texas City Model Train Festival, Nov. 9 and 10

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f you enjoy great family fun then you’ll want to come to the Texas City Model Train Festival! The yearly festival is open Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the largest festival of its kind in South East Texas! The museum has undergone extensive updating and remodeling over the past several years and now the Texas City Museum and the train club exhibits are back in full swing.

The festival is sponsored by the Galveston County Model Railroad Club (GCMRRC) and the Texas City Historical Preservation Corp.

Established in 1989, the Galveston County Model Railroad Club met at the Galveston Railroad Museum.

Because the museum could not allot the club enough space to build their layouts, they relocated to the Galvez Mall in Galveston until it closed in 1995.

A new home was found on the second floor of the Texas City Museum which once housed the old JC Penny store. Over the years the club completely renovated the second floor and now has the largest operating model railroad in South East Texas running in over 5,000 square feet. They operate many different scales: Z, N, HO, O, and G. The club operates both DC and DCC trains.

In 1991 the Railroad club started building a modular railroad.

Modular railroads consist of components that are joined together

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to make a larger layout. Each module is normally two feet wide and four feet long so a club member can usually work on a module in their own home. Once working properly it’s joined to other club modules to run a complete layout.

During the festival you’ll be able to see the club layouts and also layouts from Houston, Katy, Spring, and the Golden Triangle! These are some of the best layouts in Texas and you’ll want to see them all.

There will be lots of fun things for children to do! There are interactive train layouts, many fun buttons on the GCMRRC layouts, and the Trackless Train.

The Texas City Museum is open during the festival and will be filled with model trains on Level 1 and Level 2. All exhibits will be open.

Gift giving season is upon us so shop at the Museum Gift Shop for very affordable gifts and memorabilia. You can purchase books, goblets, shirts, hats, train whistles, and much more. The Train Cellar will be onboard if you want to shop for model trains and accessories.

The museum is located in the 400 block of 6th Street in Texas City.

Tickets are $2 for children, $5 for adults and seniors.

Parking is available at the nearby Showboat Pavilion, the Texas City Museum and on side streets.

For more information call 409-2291660.

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B o q u i l l as Many Changes but Still the Same Feel

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ack in 2011, I wrote here about receiving a letter from the Friends of Big Bend National Park telling about the upcoming reopening of the international crossing to Boquillas, Mexico. Long a part of many Texans’ Big Bend vacations, especially my

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own, Boquillas became off limits to Americans after 9/11. While I was excited about the possibilities of returning, I had concerns about going back after all these years. Would it be the place I remembered and loved so much? Would it be changed? I thought for a long time about whether I should go back or just let it remain in my memory the way it used to be.

Over time, I came to the conclusion that I at least needed to take another look. So on two successive trips,

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

one in August 2012 and another in January of this year, I tried to make the crossing only to find that the opening had been delayed while Washington worked out details with the Mexican government. Finally, in July, and again in September, I got to make the trip.

Whether you have been to Boquillas once, ten times, or even if your only experience with the place is through Robert Earl Keen’s song Gringo Honeymoon, you might be interested in what a trip to Boquillas is like today.

First and foremost, you must have a passport. Don’t leave home without it. In the old days, there was no need for any kind of identification. Not so today, and driver’s licenses, birth certificates and voter registrations cards are not acceptable.

The international crossing is in the same spot as before, along the road to Boquillas Canyon. But before heading there, you will need to make a stop at the Rio Grande Village camp store.

While you used to be able to just pay the rowboat captain three dollars for the ride across the river, today you need to buy a ticket from the camp store. The cost has gone up to $5. Put the ticket somewhere safe because you won’t need it till your return trip.

From there, enter the international crossing as before. There you will see the biggest change, a new customs and immigrations building where you

can park on the new paved lot. The parking is much more secured now, as there are government employees on site.

Your trip into the new building has two purposes. The customs people will let you know you must have a passport, though you won’t need to show it till you reach Boquillas, and then again on your return to Texas.

Then, they will direct you out a side door that leads down the same old dirt trail to the riverbank. For those who have made the trip before, at this point things are starting to look familiar.

Across the river, under a long awning made of desert sotol plants, sits a collection of men, children and burros under a Mexican flag. Some days a guitar player sings Celito Lindo when he sees you appear on the bank.

The music continues as long as you are within earshot.

Two men then cross the river in a rowboat to pick you up. They help you onboard, then row you across and help you back out onto Mexican soil. From there it is about a third of a mile from the riverbank to the town.

To get there, you have three choices: you can go by truck, ride a burro or walk. While both the burro and the truck ride will cost you an additional five dollars (up from three dollars pre-9/11), I suggest you take one of those options. While the walk is short, it is difficult—mostly uphill and

often in deep soft sand. If you choose the truck, the driver will stay in town with you, though remaining mostly invisible until you are ready to leave.

Once in town, your first stop will be in a new trailer that serves as Mexican customs. Here you will show your passport, get it stamped and be issued a day visa. This stop is mandatory. Be forewarned, the officer there speaks very little English. There are forms to fill out and it may take several attempts to get it right. But don’t worry; he is patient. Then it’s on to the fun, food and drink.

As you look around, you will find that not much has changed; walking into Boquillas is still like walking 100 years back in time. While there are a few electric wires strung on poles, the town still lacks electric service. The Sierra Club is blocking electrification in an effort to protect the peregrine falcons that nest on the east rim of the Chisos Mountains. Needless to say, the organization is not viewed favorably by the townspeople.

The old restaurant, Falcon’s (pronounced Fal-cones), is unchanged, but the sad news is that its owner and unofficial town mayor, Don Jose Falcon, has passed away. I will miss the long conversations with the fiery little man. His restaurant lives on in the care of his family, in particular his daughter Lilia who returning visitors may remember as the little girl who

hung around the restaurant in “the old days.” Now in her twenties, Lilia seems to be the person “in charge” in Boquillas today. She is sweet, speaks good English and loves to talk to tourists who remember Boquillas in the days before the closing.

The menu at Falcon’s hasn’t changed much. Plates of very simple little street tacos or burritos, make up the entire menu. The price is still three for three dollars, beer is now two dollars and bowls of jalapenos are still free.

The biggest change in town is the presence of a second restaurant directly across the street from Falcon’s.

Restaurante Boquillas is owned and run by Don Jose’s nephew, Ventura, and has a menu similar to Falcon’s.

As a result, the restaurant is referred to by locals as Falcon’s 2. Offering tacos and burritos, with the addition of enchiladas, the plates at Restaurante Boquillas have five pieces and cost five dollars a plate. Beer here is two dollars as well and the jalapenos are free.

Ventura is an engaging conversationalist and speaks English like a native. We passed a fascinating afternoon with him and learned a lot about what has transpired in Boquillas in the 12 years that tourism has been shut down.

Most noticeably, the town’s population has dropped dramatically.

Ventura told us that many of the able-bodied people have moved off to ranches in the area to find work.

Today, there are just 40 families in town. He said that now that the crossing is once again open, people are beginning to return. Ventura went on to lament the change that he found to be the most disturbing: the young people in town can no longer speak English. Because there have been no tourists, there has been no motivation to learn the language.

But some things never change.

Nothing says Boquillas more than the walk down the dirt road to the Park Bar. Most times you see trucks, burros and horses parked outside. When you walk inside, you can smell the propane that powers the beer cooler.

The old man playing the gut string guitar is now down to just five strings, but he is as enthusiastic as ever in his work. The crowds are much smaller (only about ten people the days we were there) but that should change fairly quickly as more of the town’s residents return and Americans learn that the crossing is open. But even here, there was sad news. Several of the old codgers I loved talking with over a few beers have also passed on.

But even so, passing a few hours with the mix of locals and Texan tourists made for a very pleasant afternoon.

When it is time to leave, you must return the visa to the customs trailer

where you obtained it. If you rode in a truck, you’ll find your driver will be there ready for you when you come out. When you return to the river, you will need to give the tickets you bought at the camp store to one of the boatmen at the crossing. You will then be helped into the rowboat that takes you back across into Texas.

When you return to the customs building on the Texas side, you will be asked to take out your passport, open it to the page with your photo, and insert it into an electronic reader.

Then, you will be instructed to pick up a telephone and have a brief conversation with an officer stationed in El Paso. If all goes well, in just a minute or two your passport will be returned and you can be on your way.

In spite of my trepidation about making a return trip to Boquillas, I’m glad I went back. Some old friends have been lost but new ones have been gained. I look forward to a chance to spend another afternoon talking to Lilia and Ventura over a couple of Coronas or Carta Blancas. Overall, I have to say I like most of the changes.

While planning is required to have your passport with you, and prices have increased a bit, I still find it an absolutely magnificent way to spend an afternoon. Just like in the old days, I plan to make a run into Boquillas a part of every trip to Big Bend in the future.

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Surviving Breast Cancer MD Anderson center helps make it easy for area women oday, with the help of advances in research and medical care, the survival rate of breast cancer is on the rise. More and more women are fighting back against the disease with the help of their treatment team and their own determination.

Proof of this can be found in three breast cancer survivors who have been patients at MD Anderson’s Bay Area Regional Cancer Center in Nassau Bay – Sharon Johnson of League City, Myrna Montes of Pasadena and Marnie Yancy of Friendswood.

All three were stunned on learning they had breast cancer, yet after getting over the initial shock, they are already moving forward with the help of their nurse navigator, Diana Vasquez.

Diana is the first person a breast cancer patient meets, and she is with them through every step of treatment and is accessible to them at any time.

Besides having her to lean on, all three women think it’s great to have an MD Anderson center so close to their home. This convenience really helped lower their stress and anxiety and helped make the treatment process smoother. “This is testament to why having access to quality health care in the communities surrounding Houston is so beneficial,” said Richard Ehlers, M.D., surgeon and medical director of the Bay Area center.

Sharon Johnson first felt a mass in her right breast in January 2013, and by the time she saw a doctor in March, her whole breast was swollen. Her doctor sent her to a nearby diagnostic center for an MRI, ultrasound and biopsies. On April 10, as she was sitting in the parking lot of Sam’s on her way to buy a veggie tray for a get-together, she got a call that changed her life.

“The doctor said, ‘It’s not what we expected. It’s cancer.’” And, a very aggressive cancer at that.

Sharon was in shock. “I don’t remember a whole lot of what she said. I just called my husband, and he met me at my best friend’s house.” Her doctor

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called the Bay Area Regional Care Center and got Sharon in to see Dr. Amy Hassan right away. Her treatment includes chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation.

She says her inner strength to beat this disease is her 10-year-old son, Nathan, who has Aspergers. “I feel sheer will when I look at him,” she says. “God wouldn’t have given me him if I’m not meant to be here for the long haul.” To help her share the news of her diagnosis with her son, Sharon consulted with the MD Anderson social worker who gave her a DVD that explains cancer to children.

Right now Sharon is on her second round of chemo, and then she’ll have her surgery. But in her immediate future is a fashion show called Pamper Pink Fashion Show where she will be modeling clothes with fellow breast cancer survivors as a charity benefit.

When asked what she has learned so far that she would share with other women going through breast cancer treatment, she said that would be that every journey is different. “Don’t listen to everyone else’s stories because you are not them, and they are not you. It’s your journey. It’s your life. Do what’s right for you.”

Her journey, she says, has been made so much easier by Diana: “At the beginning you’re like a deer in headlights. Having Diana was wonderful.

She has been there for every single thing, and now I feel like I have known her my whole life. Having someone I know I can call at anytime is so crucial.”

Myrna Montes was training for her first full marathon in December 2012 and had lost some weight.

That weight loss led her to discover a lump one night when she went to lie down on the couch in her Pasadena home. Since it was just before Christmas, she was not able to get an appointment with her usual OBGYN, so she made an appointment with another doctor so she could get an order for a mammogram.

The doctor was not concerned by the results of Myrna’s mammogram. Because of her age and great health and fitness, Myrna didn’t “meet the criteria for breast cancer.” Due to some liquid in the lump, a biopsy was ordered in January. A few days later she was called in to get her results.

“My mind was at ease because I didn’t think

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

it was anything major,” which is why she went in alone. That’s when she got the news that it was cancer—stage II. Being alone and in shock, Myrna wasn’t in the state of mind to comprehend everything the doctor was telling her, “I just wanted to go and scream,” she said. So she set a return appointment on Jan. 23 to come back with her husband and get more details.

Her doctor referred her to the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in the Bay Area, where she began seeing Dr. Amy Hassan in March. On March 28, Dr. Richard Ehlers performed her mastectomy, and in May of this year she started chemo and will follow up with radiation.

Her two boys, ages 8 and 3, are what has kept her going. “I’ve got two little kids so I can’t get depressed over this.” To make the physical changes, like hair loss, easier for her sons to take, she shaved her head at home and let her oldest help. Then her husband shaved his head too.

Myrna continued running and exercising throughout her treatment. She ran the marathon she had been training for a week before her diagnosis and has run a 5K and a 7K while undergoing treatment. She has been a participant in the Race for a Cure for the last 10 years as a supporter. This October will be her first time running that race as a survivor. Her family has registered with her, and they are going to do it together.

Meanwhile, Diane, the navigator nurse, has constantly been by her side. “She is my go to person for everything. I really admire her. She texts me and calls me on the weekends just to check on me when she doesn’t have to do that.”

Advice to other women: “Stay positive. Keep on living your life the way you were living it before your diagnosis.” Her slogan: “It may slow me down, but it’s not going to stop me.”

Marnie Yancy discovered a lump in her breast while at her Friendswood home and made an appointment to see her OBGYN on April 4. She was sent to a local breast center on April 8 for a mammogram and biopsy, but her doctor wasn’t concerned.

Then three days later she gets a call that it’s breast cancer, stage IIB. When she got the news she just sat still for a moment and then thought, “Okay, how do we move forward from here?”

Her doctor quickly got her in to see Dr. Hassan at the Bay Area center, where she started chemotherapy, and on Aug. 26, Dr. Elhers performed her mastectomy there. And she’s doing great. Of course with the help of Diana. “I could not have done it without her. She became the face of MD Anderson. I don’t know any of my doctor’s numbers, but I know Diana’s.”

She has a 17-year-old son who is a senior on the basketball team at Clear Brook High School. She goes to all his games and is his biggest cheerleader.

When telling the news of her diagnosis to her son, she tried to refrain from using the word cancer, but he figured it out. His reaction was the same as hers, “What do we do next?”

Marnie has maintained a very positive mindset throughout this journey and has a huge support system called Team Marnie, who go with her to every treatment. They pack 7-8 people into the waiting room and eat breakfast and laugh and make the process of cancer treatment more enjoyable for her.

When asked what she would share with other women on the same journey as her she said, “Be patient. Listen to your body. Trust in your doctors but be your own advocate and do research yourself.”

Beware of the Pitfalls of Public Wi-Fi

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ver notice how many people walk down the street completely engrossed in their smartphones and tablets? I fully expect to see one of them to walk into a light post one day.

Although it’s great having access to email, social networking and online shopping anywhere, anytime, such convenience comes with a certain amount of risk, according to Jennifer Fischer, Head of Americas Payment System Security, Visa Inc. “Unless you’re hyper-vigilant about using secure networks and hack-proof passwords, someone sitting at the next table – or halfway around the world – could be watching your every move online and stealing valuable personal and financial information right off your device,” says Fischer.

“There are two primary potential dangers with Wi-Fi,” notes Fischer.

“The first is using an unsecured network – as many public hotspots are. With a little know-how and the right tools, cybercriminals could easily eavesdrop on your online activity.

“The second hazard is phony wireless networks that impersonate legitimate Wi-Fi hot spots. You think you’re logged onto a trusted network, but instead a cybercriminal has hijacked your session and can see all the private information you access or input.”

When using public Wi-Fi networks, always follow these safety precautions: Change default settings on your laptop, smartphone or tablet to require that you must manually select a particular Wi-Fi network, rather than automatically accepting the strongest available signal.

Avoid any network connections your device lists as “unsecured” (look for the “lock” icon). But if you must log on to a public network, avoid websites that require log-ins and passwords – e.g., bank accounts or email.

Ask for the exact name of the establishment’s hot spot address – don’t be fooled by lookalikes.

Only send personal data via Wi-Fi to encrypted websites (those whose addresses begin with “https” and display a lock icon). To be safe, you may want to avoid conducting financial transactions on public Wi-Fi altogether; instead, use your secure home network.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

Consider using a third-party virtual private network (VPN) product to encrypt your Internet traffic.

Regularly update virus and spyware protection software, make sure firewalls are on, and load operating system updates as soon as they become available, whether for your computer or smartphone.

Turn off Wi-Fi on your device when it’s not in use.

Never leave a computer unattended while signed-in and always sign out completely at the end of a session.

Keep an eye out for “shoulder surfers” who watch as you type in your password.

Finally, change passwords regularly and use different ones for each website you visit. Use a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols and avoid common words and phrases.

Security experts recommend using at least 12 characters instead of the minimum eight characters commonly required.

Cybercrime is a booming business.

According to the 2012 Norton Cybercrime Report, its global price tag topped $388 billion last year, more than the global black market in marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined. It impacts individuals, small and large businesses and governments alike.

On October 2, 2013, Visa Inc. is hosting its fifth Global Security Summit in Washington, D.C. “We’re bringing together experts from the worlds of government, law enforcement, technology, finance, retail commerce and academia to explore how industry and government can collaborate to address cyber security,” says Fischer.

“Those interested in attending can register for free at www. visasecuritysummit.com.”

Being able to access the Internet anywhere anytime can be a great convenience and time-saver.

Just make sure you know what precautions to take when using public Wi-Fi networks.

This article is brought to you by a partnership between Visa and Texas First Bank and was authored by Jason Alderman, who directs Visa’s financial education programs. For more information, follow Texas First Bank on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube or visit us at www.texasfirstbank.com.

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Four more astronauts leave NASA

By Mary Alys Cherry Four astronauts have departed NASA in recent days after long years with the space agency, working at the Johnson Space Center, dropping the total number of astronauts to 60 from a high of about 150 in 1999. The four are: n Clayton Anderson, who ended a 30-year career with NASA to join Iowa State University as an aerospace engineering faculty fellow.

The Nebraska native earned his master’s degree from ISU in 1983.

Anderson has logged 167 days in space and 38 hours of spacewalks at the International Space Station and completed two space flights.

In 2007, Anderson spent a fivemonths working aboard the ISS as the flight engineer and performing three space walks and later flew on STS-131

to the space station, where he again performer three spacewalks.

Anderson will work with freshmen aerospace engineering students and help design research projects for the department’s students and faculty.

Anderson began his new job in October. n Gregory H. Johnson left the space agency after a 15-year career that included more than 31 days in space, for a position with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space.

A veteran of two space shuttle flights, he served in 2008 as the pilot of STS-123, a mission vital to the construction of the International Space Station. He followed that up two years later as the pilot of STS-134.

Johnson earned an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

He later earned graduate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Texas, and served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. Johnson flew combat missions during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. n Gregory Chamitoff is leaving NASA to join the faculty of Texas A&M University in College Station and the University of Sydney in Australia to work on a range of new entrepreneurial and humanitarian efforts.

He began his 18-year NASA career in 1995 as a space shuttle guidance and control officer in mission control at JSC and became an astronaut in 1998. He flew in space twice, in 2008 as a flight engineer and science officer for Expeditions 17 and 18 aboard the International Space Station, and as a mission specialist during STS134 in 2011, the penultimate shuttle

mission to complete assembly of the Space Station and take part in the installation of the Alphamagnetic Spectrometer. He has spent more than 198 days in space. n Ronald Garan, who joined NASA in 2000, is ending a 13-year career that included more than 178 days in space and four spacewalks. Garan flew in space twice, first in 2008 as a mission specialist on STS-124, and again in 2011 aboard the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 27 and 28.

Garan retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2009 after 25 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. He recently served within NASA’s Open Government Initiative.

Celebrating 25 years

South Shore Harbour Resort General Manager Roy Green, left, welcomes HomeTown Bank Senior Vice President Mike Duckworth to the 25th anniversary celebration.

John and Paula Towner, left, and Laddie and Lisa Howard enjoy South Shore Harbour Resort’s 25th anniversary celebration in the hotel’s Marina Plaza Ballroom.

Bridget Bear, left, greets Amoco Federal Credit Union Business Development Director Kevin Venable and Clear Creek ISD Assistant Communications Director Janice Scott as they join the crowd celebrating South Shore Harbour Resort’s 25th anniversary.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

League City Mayor Tim Paulissen led a joyous crowd of Bay Area residents who joined South Shore Harbour Resort General Manager Roy Green in celebrating the hotel’s 25th anniversary.

Faces in the crowd of several hundred that filled the hotel’s Marina Plaza Ballroom included the resort’s first general manager, Austin Frame, who was there with his wife, Gun Ledbetter Frame; Clear Lake Area Chamber president Cindy Harreld and League City Chamber President Laurie Baldwin and the retired general manager of South Shore Harbour Development Tom Brooker and his wife, Sandra.

Most had a grand time remembering the opening of the hotel and special events through the years.

Wray Lindersmith, from left, is happy to see retired South Shore Harbour Development General Manager Tom Brooker and his wife, Sandra, and the hotel’s first general manager, Austin Frame, and his wife, realtor Gun Ledbetter Frame at the South Shore Harbour hotel’s 25th anniversary.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

NOVEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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C O M M U N I T Y

Tickets now on sale for magical Breakfast With Sugar Plum Fairy

By Mary Alys Cherry

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Abigail Dickson earns Ron Carter Scholarship

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ongratulations to Abigail Dickson who was one of five $1000 scholarship winners from the Ron Carter of Clear Lake Cadillac Hyundai Dealership. Seniors from across the entire community submitted their applications. Dickson, a former ROTC Junior Commander of her student unit stated, “My goal is to become a Naval Aviator and to serve my country proudly. The Ron Carter people have helped me to accomplish my dream. I will need a Bachelor’s Degree from a university or college before I enter the Armed Services.”

According to Ron Carter of Clear Lake Executive Chris Premont, “The dealership will sponsor this Scholarship Program again in 20132014 for all seniors whether enrolled in public, private, parochial or home school.” “Our applications for the scholarship doubled this past year and we expect even more participation this year”, said Premont.

To apply for the scholarship contact your respective Student Counceling Office or go the Ron Carter Cadillac Hyundai web site at www.

RonCarterOfClearLake.com.

The Montgomery family celebrates its new affiliation with Supreme Lending at the Montgormery Group office in League City. From left, Regan, Casey, Erika, Laine, Mimiand Lawson Montgomery

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2013

ay Area families will have an opportunity to enjoy an enchanting holiday tradition on Saturday, Nov. 23 when the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre hosts its 23rd annual holiday gala for the wee set -- Breakfast With the Sugar Plum Fairy at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Besides experiencing the fantasy of being in the Kingdom of Sweets, they’ll be treated to breakfast favorites while enjoying vignettes from the holiday favorite, The Ballerina Heather Steele and pretty little Hattie Grey Nutcracker.

Garner make a charming picture at the Bay Area Houston A silent auction Ballet & Theatre’s Breakfast with the Sugar Plum Fairy. and puppet shows are among a number 10 that range in price from $750 to of planned activities. $1,500. For details, call the ballet, The hotel also will unveil 281-480-1617. Commemorative table its breath-taking, six-foot-tall centerpieces are available for $75.

Gingerbread House at the gala and Lynette Mason Gregg, the ballet’s members of the wee set and their founder and artistic director, parents can pose for a professional said dress will be “holiday best,” photograph in front of the adding that “proceeds benefit confectionary masterpiece. the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Afterwards guests can shop at Theatre’s mission of bringing high The Nutcracker Boutique. quality entertainment and cultural Individual seats are $60 each enrichment to our community.” with premium seating at tables for

The expert speakers at the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region’s Procurement Breakfast.

Pictured from left to right, Jim Poggi - ExxonMobil, Dennis Hernandez - Lyondellbasell, Ron Ehlinger - Channel Biorefinery and Daniel Elizondo - Vopak North America.